Vice Premier Peres in Barcelona
Photo: AP
Peres says Hamas key to peace - report
Vice Premier urges Hamas, Fatah to iron out differences as first step towards reviving dead peace process
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Tuesday he hoped the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas will resolve their differences so that they can both work together with Israel for peace in the Middle East, Spanish news reports said.
Speaking in the southern city of Seville, Peres said he was aware of the "profound differences" between Fatah leader and Palestine National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the Islamic movement Hamas, but that it was necessary for the two to cooperate, national news agency Efe reported.
Peres said he believed Hamas was an important force in the peace process and must play a role in it, according to Efe. He also recognized the group's importance in the religious sphere and in the economy of Gaza.
But he stressed that Abbas was the "president of the Palestinian people" and that Israel felt it could reach agreements with him to end the violence, the news agency reported.
Football for peace
Peres was in Seville accompanying members of the Israeli soccer squad who are to team up with Palestinian players to play a friendly match Wednesday against a team representing the southern Spanish region of Andalusia.The proceeds from the match are to go toward financing schools next year in Palestinian territories in a project sponsored by the Andalusian regional government.
Israeli singer Noa is to perform before the game while former French soccer star Michel Platini was to make the honorary kickoff.
Talks between Abbas and Hamas to former a national unity government have foundered over the latter's refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing peace deals.
