Livni Nods to Peace Amid Political Talks

Israel's prime minister-designate took a break from her efforts to form a new government today to meet with the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, signaling she will keep negotiations going despite the country's political uncertainty. Tzipi Livni and the Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, have met regularly since peace talks formally relaunched at a US-hosted summit last November.

Today's talks in Jerusalem were the first since Livni was elected head of the ruling Kadima Party last week. She's replacing Ehud Olmert, who is being forced from office by a corruption scandal. Qureia said that Livni assured him she would continue the negotiations throughout the coalition-building process and that "there will be no conditions or obstacles to continue the peace process."
(More Arab Israeli conflict stories.)