Source: – HYPERLINK http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Press_conference_FM_Livni_and_Secretary_Clinton_3-Mar-2009.htm http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Press_conference_FM_Livni_and_Secretary_Clinton_3-Mar-2009.htm
Date: March 3, 2009
Joint Press Conference with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem
Opening remarks by FM Tzipi Livni:
It is an honor for us, for all of us, to welcome you to Israel. Secretary Clinton is a good friend of Israel, and has shown a deep understanding of the needs of Israel, an understanding of the nature of the threats that we have here in the region. You have shown this kind of friendship and understanding in every position you held in the past.
There is a new administration in the United States of America and, of course, a new government in Israel that is going to be formed during the next few days. But it is not less important to reiterate and to emphasize that the relationship between Israel and the United States of America  is based on shared values, and an understanding of the common interests, the threats and the ways to confront and to meet these challenges together. This transcends parties and governments, and is based on an understanding of the nature of the values.
The United States of America is the leader of the free world. It leads the necessary battles against extremism, representing the same values that are the basic values of the United States of America. And Israel is proud to represent these values here in the Middle East.
On the basis of these shared values and the need to fight anti-Semitism, I would like to express not only the government's appreciation but the appreciation of the people of Israel to the stand that you took – HYPERLINK http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2009/Press+releases/FM_Livni_comments_on_US_non-participation_in_Durban_2_1_Mar_2009.htm against participation in the Durban conference. This demonstrates the values of the United States of America. It was a symbolic decision, and I hope to see more states following this decision. And I would like to thank you personally for this.
Based on these same values, there is an understanding between Israel and the United States of America that the division in the region is between extremists and moderates. There is a need to act according to a dual strategy: On one hand, to confront terror, to act against the extremism that is represented here in the region by Iran which poses this threat, trying to attain nuclear weapons. Iran expresses its extreme ideology, which is not connected in any way to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
We have Hamas within the Palestinian Authority that controls the Gaza Strip and targets Israel on a daily basis. Israel is working according to this dual strategy, on the one hand, to confront terrorism. When the State of Israel is being targeted, part of our responsibility as a government, any government, is to fight back and to use military force when necessary in the Gaza Strip. On the other hand, there is a need, not less important, to continue the peace process between Israel and the legitimate Palestinian government, according to the vision of two states for two peoples. This vision represents the interests of Israel and the values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and, at the end of the day, represents the idea of living together in peace in this region.
Since a new government in Israel is going to be formed, I'm sure that part of the process is going to be to sit together, to share our evaluation of the situation in the region - not only the nature of the threats but what should be done in order to address them. In this shared policy, l believe that it is not only about sharing the same values but also a basic understanding of what needs to be done in order to address the threats and the challenges in the region.
We have had a very fruitful and enlightening discussion up till now, and thank you.