Israel peace negotiator Livni defends Abbas talks

Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni on Monday defended a decision to meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after peace talks collapsed, in a move that drew sharp criticism from ministers.

"I would like to remind everyone that the conflict isn't over," Justice Minister Tzipi Livni told her HaTnuah party at a weekly meeting, according to a statement.

"We're still here and the Palestinians are still here. Our interest is to resolve the conflict, and ignoring reality is not an option," she said.

Livni came under fire for holding talks in London with Abbas on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and ministers distancing themselves from the meeting, insisting it was private and did not signal official intention to resume talks.

Livni was "representing only herself and not the Israeli government," a senior official from Netanyahu's office told Israeli newspaper Haaretz shortly after reports of the meeting emerged.

The meeting between Livni and Abbas last week occured hours after separate meetings each had with US Secretary of State John Kerry, also in London. 

Israel pulled out of the talks in mid-April, saying it would not negotiate with any Palestinian government supported by Hamas after the leadership in the West Bank signed a unity deal with the rival Islamist rulers of Gaza, who are committed to the destruction of the Jewish state.

"Ignoring the other side, not listening or talking, is irresponsible," Livni said.

"A resolution is best achieved through direct negotiations, but we can't ignore the agreement between Hamas and Fatah," she said, referring to Abbas's ruling party which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

"To all those politicians up in arms, I want to be clear -- we'll continue doing what we believe in, and that's what I did last week by meeting the president," Livni said.