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Israel Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, left, meets with British Chancellor Gordon Brown in London, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006. (AP)
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| By Ronny Sofer November 1, 2006 |
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Israeli planes will cease their flights over Lebanon only when Hizbullah will disarm and Israel will receive the region's arsenal maps -- so said Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres to reporters in London on Wednesday.
Peres, who is finishing off a visit to the British capital, said that he doubts the potential success of Britain's special envoy to Damascus. Not because he doubts Britain's intentions, emphasized Peres, but because of Damascus. Israel is serious about a Syrian peace, says Peres -- one that may include painful concessions on Israel's part; but Assad is trying to have it both ways and 'that is impossible.'
Peres elaborated, saying that one cannot speak sweet words about peace with Israel and yet simultaneously harbor and host murderous terrorists like Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, nor can one support, aid and arm terror proxies like Hizbullah.
He said that Israel is also prepared for peace with Lebanon and is willing to cooperate on economic and political issues. Israel's aspiration, Peres said, is to see a moderate and unified Lebanon that is open to peace with Israel. Peres further went to on to say that while Lebanon was not an enemy of Israel, the bigger picture must be taken into account and Hizbollah must be prevented from turning Lebanon into an extremist Shiite proxy of Iran. Peres reiterated that Israel demands that Hizbullah's presence be replaced by UNIFIL and Lebanese forces.
The vice premier also said that future negotiations with the Palestinians will be pushed forward by advancing economic steps. Israel was ready to make peace with the Palestinians, he said, but the current situation has rendered that impossible for the time being.
Peres spoke of the Saudi initiative from 2002, going on to say that Arab states must stop being timid about peace.
They must lift their heads and talk directly to Israel -- they must act like President Sadat and King Hussein who came to Jerusalem and met with Israeli leaders in public -- gone are the days of under-the-table peace, he concluded.
This article first appeared on Ynet.
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