Peres urges Mideast peace efforts resume

JERUSALEM, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres has urged the government to resume peace talks with the Palestinians and to not give up on the Israeli dream for Mideast peace.

Speaking at the opening of the Knesset's winter session Monday, Peres said the time has come to reach final conclusions.

In a few days Israel will mark the 15th anniversary of its peace treaty with Jordan, and next month it will be 32 years since Egyptian President Anwar Sada's historic visit to Israel, Peres said. Details of his speech were released by the president's office.

While peace with Egypt and Jordan may not be based on love, combat has ceased and there have been no wars at their borders, the president said.

The time he said has come to chose between two options. An isolated Israel solely responsible for all the territories while facing hostility from Palestinians and Arab states as well as increased criticism from other countries he said. Or, to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority until a suitable solution is found, he said.

Failure to pursue negotiations will only strengthen Hamas and destroy hopes of peace in our region. To achieve peace, "we must give up land and the Palestinians must stop terrorism," Peres said.

"In my opinion if we move forward with peace and make peace with the Palestinians, and if we start negotiations with Syria and Lebanon, we will remove the main pretext for the Iranian madness – against us and against the other residents of this region," he said.