“When I look back, one of my conclusions is that we need to hold bilateral talks between us and them. And also between the prime minister and [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas.” In this offhand statement uttered by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on the Meet the Press Saturday night (April 5), the Israeli chief negotiator with the Palestinians revealed the truth about what transpired the last eight months in the meeting rooms — or more correctly, about what did not take place.

Livni, who gave only a few interviews in recent months, made an exception on the background of last week’s blowup in the negotiations. The talks were cut off after Israel delayed the fourth stage of the release of security prisoners, and in response the Palestinians made an official bid to the UN to become a signatory to 15 international conventions. Both steps were taken contrary to previous commitments of the sides. This moment should have been one of soul-searching for Livni. Many of her supporters in the Israeli public, who gave six mandates to her party in the last elections only to promote the diplomatic process, were unhappy with her being part of the Netanyahu government next to far-right elements. That was the moment when she should have taken responsibility and given them clear answers regarding her past decisions and future intentions.

Instead, these days Livni is blaming everyone except herself. She threatens the Palestinians with sanctions if they do not return to the negotiating table, and on the Israeli side she blames Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (of the HaBayit HaYehudi Party), whose ministry announced a tender for the construction of 700 new residential housing units in Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood. It's strange that the minister in charge of negotiations is the last one to find out that what transpired in the discussion rooms was nothing but a stalling exercise for both sides. That both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent negotiating teams only because of US pressure, without real desire or belief that an agreement could be achieved.

Livni has served in key positions within the diplomatic process for more than a decade. She became the great hope of Israel’s left-center because of her dovish approach and her raising of the dialogue-with-Palestinians banner, first within the Likud Party and then in Kadima. As foreign minister in Olmert’s government (2006-2009), Livni won much acclaim in the international community. She exploited her excellent reputation and renown after the last elections when she was the first to join Netanyahu’s government; until then, she had called him an "obstacle to peace." After very brief coalition negotiations, the HaTenua chairwoman raced headfirst into one of the most right-wing governments that ever existed in the annals of Israel’s history. In talks held behind closed doors in those days, former Minister Haim Ramon (the man who viewed her until that point as an alternative to Netanyahu) said that Livni’s entrée to the government caused damage to the left-center camp. He felt that the six mandates received by Hatnua Party, were handed over by Livni to the Likud on a silver platter.