Time running out for peace, says Livni    • The Guardian,
Israeli prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni yesterday warned
that time is running out for a peace agreement between Israel
and the Palestinians, with extremists gaining strength as
negotiations stumble.  In her first foreign policy speech since
her appointment to form a new Israeli government, Livni said
Israel must press ahead with peace talks because "doing nothing
has its own price".  Israel and the Palestinians resumed talks
last November at a conference hosted by President Bush. They set
a target date of January 2009, when Bush leaves office, for
completing a peace deal, but apparent little progress has been
made, and both sides cast severe doubt about meeting the target.
Livni, who heads the Israeli negotiating team, warned there are
dangers in letting the process drag on indefinitely.  "An
understanding of what is under way in the region shows that time
is not working in the favour of Israel and regional moderates,"
she said, indicating the gr