Israel's Livni, in Qatar, lobbies for support against Iran, ties with Arabs

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

DOHA (AFP) — Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni used a visit to Qatar on Monday, a rare event in the Arab world, to lobby for support against Iran's nuclear drive and urge Arab states to forge ties with Israel.

Livni, on the second day of a visit officially billed as intended to attend a democracy forum, also met with Qatar's leadership and held what Israel hailed as a first public encounter with her Omani counterpart.

"Iran represents the extremists in the region and this is a threat and challenge to the entire region," Livni told reporters in Doha when asked if she had sought support against Iran's nuclear programme during her meetings.

Livni said Iran tries to undermine other regimes, works with "radical" Shiite elements such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, and...