President Shimon Peres spoke at the UN's General Assembly on Monday saying giving a rousing address to members and a hope for peace.
"History is written in blood. Most wars have been waged over territory. Today, creativity and knowledge have taken the place of land as the main source of wealth," said Peres.
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"Land can be captured, not knowledge. Knowledge is global, knows no
boundaries, it cannot be captured by military force. Despite this,
terrorists that respect no law are causing violence based on ideological
differences, social gaps and jealousies." Peres continued with the hope
that countries around the globe would succeed in achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals. "In this millenium, the world must free itself from bloodshed,
discrimination, hunger and disease and sickness."
Peres also told the assembly that Israel was interested in immediately starting direct negotiations with Syria. "In spite of wars, we have made peace with Egypt and Jordan," Peres said in his speech. "We are ready to enter direct negotiations with Syria right away."
He emphasized that Israel seeks to be at peace with its neighbors and peace within the entire Middle East, sound optimistic for the success of the current peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. "We are now negotiating with the Palestinians in order to realize a Jewish state – Israel, and an Arab state – Palestine…and I believe that we shall succeed," Peres declared.
"I believe that the Middle East has room for every person, every nation, every religion. Israel will continue to exist and aspire to peace with its neighbors."