Netanyahu confidants reject claims that PM needed Livni to garner US support during Gaza war

Army Radio quotes sources as saying Livni's claims that her efforts gave Israel legitimacy during Operation Protective Edge are false.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Netanyahu and Livni (photo credit: REUTERS)
Netanyahu and Livni
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the main actor enlisting US support for Israel during Operation Protective Edge, while then-Justice Minister Tzipi Livni's diplomatic conversations with the Americans achieved nothing, Army Radio quoted sources close to Netanyahu as saying on Thursday.
The comments came in response to claims by Livni in her speech to the Calcalist conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday in which she claimed that Netanyahu had sought her help in pleading Israel's case to the US during the 50-day Gaza war.
"My position and my ability to wield influence on the international community is known by Netanyahu as well, because he is the one who called me and asked me to come and speak with [US Secretary of State John] Kerry - to prevent us from having to accept the Qatari truce draft and also to enable a ground operation into Gaza," Livni said.
During Operation Protective Edge Kerry had shown support for a Qatari cease-fire plan, which Israel saw as acceding to all of Hamas's demands and lifting the terrorist organization's standing in the international community.
Sources close to the prime minister rejected Livni's claims, telling Army Radio that "Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke dozens of times with international leaders, including President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry, on a daily basis."
The sources added: "In these conversations the prime minister worked to get international legitimacy for the IDF's actions against Hamas and to reject the Qatari proposal."
The sources slammed Livni, telling Army radio: "One day, when the protocols of the conversations are made public, it will become clear to what degree the prime minister's role was vital and that Livni's conversations did nothing.