Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni gave a keynote address at the 11th annual Herzliya Conference on Monday, adressing the peace process and her vision for Israel's future.
"The two-state solution is not a favor to Americans or something we're giving to the Palestinians as a favor or out of weakness," Livni said. "The two-state solution is part of our values as a Jewish State."
"The Jewish State is not just a majority of Jews in the state, and is not the ultra-Orthodox interpretation of Judaism; we need to decide what it means," she explained.
Discussing the current government, Livni said "the decision-making process is the problem," adding that the current debates over who will be the next IDF chief of staff is one of a series of decisions Israel's leadership failed to make.
"Mothers of soldiers need to know that they are giving their sons over to a worthy leadership, and this leadership is not worthy," Livni said. "Decisions need to be made for the benefit of the state, and not for political reasons."
"I'm not here just as a critic. I believe we can do things differently. Israel's problem isn't public diplomacy, it's what happens within," Livni claimed. "When we face external events, we need to make the decisions in the right way."
"All the problems can be solved by a new vision, which will provide a moral significance for Israel, recreating global legitimacy," Livni said. "If we change the social direction, we can give young people hope."
Livni added: "This is not empty verbiage. We need to make decisions."
This year's conference, themed: “The Balance of Israel’s National Strength (hosen) and Security," is running from February 6 to 9, 2011 and is unique among the plethora of Israeli and international conferences.
The Jerusalem Post's live feed from the conference will cover speakers including President Shimon Peres, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.
Since its inception, the Herzliya Conference has become the annual "summit meeting" of the most influential Israeli and international leaders. Participants at the Conference include: government officials, Knesset members and ministers, senior defense officials, leaders of the Israeli business community, senior academicians, media representatives from Israel and abroad, representatives from various leading Jewish organizations in the Diaspora, dignitaries from abroad and the diplomatic corps in Israel.