Peres in Washington: Netanyahu wants to make history

The message was clear. The day before his meeting at the White House, President Shimon Peres' top priority was to communicate to the new US administration that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to make peace and intends to honor and uphold all the agreements signed by previous Israeli governments.

Peres, who met with Netanyahu ahead of his trip to coordinate positions, addressed the 6,000 attendees of the annual conference held by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) on Monday. Using the platform provided by the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, the president sought to reassure the new administration that Jerusalem will respond positively to US President Barack Obama's efforts to revive the peace process.

"President Obama elegantly articulated what is needed, when he called for an outstretched hand instead of a clenched fist. In the future, our time may be considered as the age of outstretched hands," Peres said.

"Israel stands with her arms outstretched, and her hands held open to peace with all nations, with all Arab states, with all Arab people. To those still holding a clenched fist I have just one word to say – enough!

"Enough war. Enough destruction. Enough hatred. Now is the time for change."

Peres also touched on the global economic crisis, saying he was confident Obama "has the capacity to turn the crises into opportunity. May I say to President Obama – you are young enough to offer hope to the world and great enough to bring it to life."

Praise for the Saudi plan

"I shall be meeting President Obama tomorrow to deliver a message of a country which is yearning for peace. Later on, the president will meet Prime Minister Netanyahu.

"Binyamin Netanyahu was at one time my political opponent. Today, he is my prime minister. He knows history and wants to make history. In our tradition, making history is making peace, and I am sure that peace is his priority."

Peres set two fundamental preconditions for peace. "First, peace must be real, lasting and mutually respected… Secondly, peace should enable Israel to protect its people.

"The same is true for future of the Palestinian people. I say it loudly because I believe it strongly. The Palestinian people have the right to govern themselves, to invest their resources and direct their aid to civil high-tech, not military rockets… books, not bombs – so their people can be free of fear and hunger.

He praised the Saudi peace initiative, which was accepted by the Arab League. "Israel wasn’t a partner to the wording of this initiative. Therefore it doesn’t have to agree to every word. Nevertheless, Israel respects the profound change, and hopes it will be translated into action."

'Iran on the wrong side of history'

Peres also discussed the pressing Iranian nuclear threat. "Let me be clear. The fanatic rulers of Iran are on the wrong side of history. Actually, they are outside of history. We have respect for the Iranian people and its tradition. Historically, Iran sought to enrich mankind. Today, alas, Iran’s rulers enrich uranium," he said.

"The aggressiveness of the Iranian government is not limited to Israel. Indeed, they seek regional

hegemony and want to control Arab states using terror and coercion. They develop a nuclear option. They invest huge capital in long-range missiles. Iran is not threatened by anyone.

"Iran funds and arms Hizbullah and Hamas to spread division and terror, trying to impose a foreign and violent ideology. Their agents target Americans, Europeans and Arabs alike.

"Historically, the concern was to separate religion from state. Today, however, the challenge is to disconnect religion from terror. In the name of God there should be no wars. No dead. No victims. No bloodshed."