Tzipi Livni's Address at the UN Forum
Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni expressed her dismay at the actions of pro-Palestinian activists who protested during the 10th Alliance of Civilizations Forum held at the Estoril Congress Center in Lisbon. Livni stated, "It is easy to support peace and tolerance as long as you don't have to pay a price for it," highlighting the challenges faced when expressing differing views in the current climate.
Protest Against Livni
Activists painted the word "Zionist" in red on the facade of the Congress Center as a form of protest against Livni's participation. During her panel discussion titled “United in Peace: Restoring Trust, Redefining the Future,” she noted that the support for tolerance from organizations like the United Nations (UN) was being tested by those attempting to intimidate or threaten the existence of such conferences.
The Importance of Tolerance
Livni emphasized that tolerance is more significant than conferences discussing it. She expressed gratitude towards former Latvian President Vaira Vīke-Freiberga for standing up for shared values during her own speech. Livni remarked, "One thing is to fight for values and rights, but it is completely different to resort to terror to deprive others of their beliefs,” referencing the actions of Hamas during the October 7 attacks in Israel.
The Need for Understanding
Addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Livni mentioned the necessity of understanding the facts to restore peace and trust, but warned that facts are becoming less important in today's world, where social media creates diverse sources of information.
Background on Tzipi Livni
Livni served as Israel's Foreign Minister from 2006 to 2009 during a military operation against Gaza and faced a British arrest warrant for her involvement. Having retired from politics in 2020, she criticized the current Israeli government for undermining democratic institutions. Her political career was marked by her close involvement in negotiations with Palestinians and her near ascension to the role of Prime Minister in 2009.
The Forum's Significance
This year's forum commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations and aims to evaluate two decades of efforts while planning the future direction of the initiative, culminating in the Cascais Declaration. The event features notable attendees, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and various foreign ministers and former heads of state.
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