Tzipi Livni
Former Foreign Minister of Israel (2006–2009) · Likud, then Kadima and Hatnua
2 changes of mind on record, 1999–2013
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- Sitting in Netanyahu's government Opposition, not his governmentIn his government Mar 2009Feb 2013
- Giving up part of the Land of Israel The dream is not overGive up part of the land Dec 1999Feb 2005
first said said otherwise
Sitting in Netanyahu's government
Then
Opposition, not his government
As Kadima leader, on the day Netanyahu's government is sworn in, she says Kadima chose the opposition and that joining that government would have buried the hope of a different diplomatic path.
"היום יותר מתמיד ברור שבכניסת קדימה לממשלה הזו היינו קוברים את התקווה שיש אפשרות אחרת, שיש דרך מדינית אחרת, שיש התנהלות אחרת, שיש פוליטיקה אחרת."
Our translation Today it is clearer than ever that, had Kadima entered this government, we would have buried the hope that another possibility exists, another diplomatic path, another way of conducting ourselves, another kind of politics.
Source דברי הכנסת, הכנסת ה-18, 31 במרץ 2009: הצגת הממשלה ה-32
3 years, 10 months later
Later
In his government
As head of Hatnua, announcing her party's agreement to join Netanyahu's government as justice minister, she says she criticised his conduct for four years but that talks since had produced understandings.
"יש לנו היסטוריה של יריבויות ומשקעים. אני ביקרתי את התנהלותו של נתניהו בארבע השנים האחרונות - אך מאז ניהלנו שיחות ארוכות והגענו להבנות."
Our translation We have a history of rivalries and resentments. I criticised Netanyahu's conduct in the last four years, but since then we have held long talks and reached understandings.
Source נתניהו ולבני הציגו הסכם: "צעד ראשון לאחדות" (וואלה חדשות) (as reported by news.walla.co.il)
Context: In 2009 Kadima won the most seats but Livni did not form a government and Netanyahu did; in 2013 Hatnua won six seats and she became justice minister in his third government, with responsibility for talks with the Palestinians. Netanyahu dismissed her in December 2014.
Giving up part of the Land of Israel
Then
The dream is not over
As a Likud MK she says she was raised on the dream of the whole Land of Israel, which included the East Bank of the Jordan, and that the dream is not over: she can go on raising her children on it, without any need to act now to realise it.
"ולכן אני יכולה להמשיך ולחנך את ילדי כפי שאמר לך אותו בית"רי צעיר, ונכון אמר, שהחלום הזה לא נגמר."
Our translation And so I can go on raising my children as that young Betar member told you, and he said it rightly: that this dream is not over.
Source דברי הכנסת, הישיבה ה-65 של הכנסת ה-15, 27 בדצמבר 1999
5 years, 1 month later
Later
Give up part of the land
As justice minister, supporting the law to carry out the Gaza disengagement, she says she has reached the painful conclusion that to keep Israel a Jewish and democratic state she must give up part of the Land of Israel, while still recognising the Jewish people's right to all of it.
"אני הגעתי למסקנה, למרות הכאב, שכדי לקיים כאן את כל הערכים שגדלתי עליהם, שחינכו אותי עליהם בבית, שהיה בעבר תנועת החרות ואחר כך הליכוד, כדי לקיים כאן מדינה יהודית ודמוקרטית בעלת ערכים יהודיים ודמוקרטיים, אני צריכה, אבוי לי, לוותר על חלק מארץ-ישראל, למרות ההכרה המוחלטת שלי בזכות של עם ישראל על ארץ-ישראל כולה."
Our translation I have reached the conclusion, despite the pain, that in order to uphold here all the values I grew up on, that I was raised on at home, a home that was once the Herut movement and later the Likud, in order to maintain here a Jewish and democratic state with Jewish and democratic values, I must, alas, give up part of the Land of Israel, despite my absolute recognition of the right of the people of Israel to the whole of the Land of Israel.
Source דברי הכנסת, הכנסת ה-16, 16 בפברואר 2005: הצעת חוק יישום תוכנית ההתנתקות, התשס"ה-2005
Context: The Knesset passed the Disengagement Plan Implementation Law on 16 February 2005. As foreign minister she later led Israel's negotiating team with the Palestinians after the Annapolis conference of November 2007.