Peres after meeting Mitchell: US, Israeli stance in accordance
'They say that the Obama administration will pressure Israel, but, actually, we are the ones who will pressure the United States to help bring about peace and fight terrorism,' president tells reporters after meeting America envoy in Jerusalem
Following his meeting with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell in Jerusalem Wednesday afternoon, President Shimon Peres said that there was no contradiction between the US' stance and Israel's position on Middle East peace.
"Like in the United States, Israel also wants peace and believes that it must fight terrorism, headed by Hamas and Iran.
"They say that the US and the new administration will pressure Israel, but, actually, we are the ones who will pressure the United States to help bring about peace and fight terrorism," said Peres.
Earlier Wednesday Peres met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and told him that Europe must deal Hamas as it would with any terror organization and that the rehabilitation of Gaza must not lead to the rehabilitation of Hamas.
During the meeting the president said Israel was in favor of rehabilitating Gaza and even suggested the establishment of a committee headed by his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to oversee the process along with the EU and Egypt.
Mitchell, who also met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said that the two discussed the decisive importance of instating a ceasefire in Gaza that includes all terrorist activities, an end to arms smuggling, and opening crossings in the Strip. Mitchell said that such an agreement would be based on the 2005 agreement.
Mitchell reinforced US President Barak Obama's statements that the US is committed to the security of Israel and will make good on its pledge to establish two states for two nations.
