Peres: With Olmert all the way

In meeting with Condoleezza Rice in Washington, Peres expresses support for PM, asks for US assistance in retrieving kidnapped soldiers, and refers to UNSCR 1701 as historic proceeding
Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON - In a Tuesday evening visit to Washington, Vice Premier Shimon Peres expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and asked for help from US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice in securing the release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

During the visit, Peres said that he obligates himself to stand behind Olmert is this difficult hours. "This is not the time for internal wars in Israel, because this war is far from over," he said, stating his full backing for the prime minister.

Peres, who was sent by Olmert to the US, is raising funds to rehabilitate the Galilee. To Rice he stated that, despite the end of the fighting, the battle was not over and, as such, focused on three important points: Rehabilitation of the Galilee, return of the kidnapped soldiers, and prevention of an Iranian takeover of the Middle East.

Peres asked for Rice's help specifically in securing the release of two IDF soldiers from Hizbullah hands, because their release, while mentioned in the preamble of UN Security Council resolution 1701, was not enumerated in the document's actual clauses.

Peres said that clashes with Hizbullah could more accurately be described as skirmishes with Iranian commandos, instructed and trained for months, supplied with an annual budget of USD 100m and a wealth of missiles and arms from Iran. He emphasized how important it is that Lebanon's rehabilitation be funded by Western and moderate Arab nations, and not by Iran.

Peres also thanked Rice for her efforts in advancing UNSCR 1701 and noted that, for the first time in history, Arab nations censured an Arab aggressor – Hizbullah. As such, Russia joined the arms embargo for the first time. Peres remarked on the importance of the Security Council's unanimous support for the resolution, but highlighted the importance of retaining such widespread support, in order to ensure that deeds would follow words.

"The success (of the resolution) will be in the implementation," he said to Rice, promising Israel's full support in this capacity.