Israel pledges two-state solution with Palestinians

In emotional speeches today, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to forge a peace between their countries, calling the vision of two states, side by side, the only path.

With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas watching, Livni told the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum that a Palestinian state is “not an illusion. It’s there. It’s achievable.”

Livni urged the international community to support moderates in the Middle East and told Abbas that “compromising with extremists will not promote anything”, a clear reference to Hamas and other militant groups.

Abbas listened intently, nodding his head, and afterward greeted her warmly with a long handshake.

He reiterated that if he cannot form a unity government with Hamas officials, he would move to call early elections, but gave no specific timetable.

Addressing a large crowd of political leaders, corporate bosses and others at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, Abbas said that such an agreement would help strengthen the hands of moderates in the region and fight extremism of all stripes.