Despite being the first to join Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's government, newly-designated justice minister and leader of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority said Wednesday morning that her criticism towards the government's policy has not changed.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Livni emphasized her determination to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians, and opined that the ability to advance a diplomatic solution based on two states for two peoples depends on the composition of the government that is formed.
Livni said that she and Netanyahu worked to find common ground on which they could both work in order to advance the two-state solution. "Our common goal was reached after hours of conversation following the elections," Livni said. "When there's a common goal, you put aside your differences," she added.
Livni pointed to Netanyahu's speech the night earlier in which he stressed his commitment to a two state solution. The prime minister also said in the joint press conference on Tuesday night, that Livni would lead talks for peace between two nation-states, to “end the conflict once and for all.”
She also promised that in her role as Justice Minister she will thwart any legislative initiatives that damage the values of a Jewish and democratic state.
According to the coalition agreement between the Tzipi Livni Party and Likud Beytenu, Livni will be the chief negotiator with the Palestinians, but will coordinate with Netanyahu, who is to lead a ministerial committee on the peace process that will include Livni and the defense and foreign ministers.