Peres welcomes British MPs, briefs them on peace negotiations

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Peres 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Peres 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Emotion figures as significantly in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians as territory, security, economics and water, President Shimon Peres told a 15-member British Labor Friends of Israel delegation at Beit Hanassi on Wednesday. Headed by Labor Friends chairman MP Andrew Gwynne, the delegation, which arrived in Israel on Sunday, is touring the country, and has also been to Ramallah. Regarding future negotiations with the Palestinians, Peres cited Israel's experience in the Gaza Strip as a warning. Israel dismantled settlements and left Gaza, he said, and the result was that the evacuated area is used as a base for attacking Israel. "So when we're asked to leave the West Bank, we have to ask ourselves what will happen if we do." Peres made it clear that Israel does not want to see Hamas taking over the West Bank in the same way that it took over Gaza in June 2007. Referring to the upcoming Palestinian Authority elections, Peres said of Hamas: "They can't have democracy for 24 hours and then go back to terror. They have to decide if they want voting or shooting. On the other hand, they wanted a cease-fire, and we said OK, we'll try. But then they say that even if Israel leaves the West Bank they won't recognize it [Israel]." When Gwynne asked what the UK could do toward brokering an agreement, Peres said that it could contribute to joint industrial zones, which would provide tens of thousands of jobs, and could perhaps build on its historic relationship with Jordan. During their tour of the country, the British visitors saw several projects in which Jews and Arabs worked side-by-side, proving that coexistence was possible, they said. On the basis of that, they wondered why it was it was so difficult to conclude a peace agreement. "The window of opportunity seems to be closing," observed one of the members of the delegation. "You need to use a telescope instead of a window," responded Peres.