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Last update - 13:30 20/11/2008
VIDEO / Peres warns evacuation of settlers may lead to civil war
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags: settlement 

LONDON - President Shimon Peres told members of the British Parliament Wednesday that Israel would have difficulty dismantling West Bank settlements without causing a civil war in Israel.

On the second day of his state visit to Britain, Peres Wednesday became the first Israeli leader to address members of both houses of Parliament in the House of Lords' Robing room.

"The State of Israel began to take shape as Great Britain, under the leadership of Winston Churchill, saved the world from the Nazi threat. It was a time when many countries closed their gates to Holocaust survivors," Peres said.
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"My family arrived in Israel when it was still under British mandate. In our pockets were British Palestinian passports. In our hearts was the Balfour declaration. Israel would not have a vibrant democracy if it hadn't been for the British legacy."

While Peres spoke, some 20 pro-Palestinian protesters called on Britain not to maintain ties with the "apartheid state" Israel and the "war criminal" Peres.

A larger demonstration was held outside Oxford University's theater on Tuesday, when Peres' speech on 'Peace and Globalization" was disrupted by some 150 anti-Israel protesters.

Some of the demonstrating students entered the lecture hall, which was open to all students, and interrupted Peres' speech repeatedly, protesting Israel's conduct in the territories.

The protesting students were removed, except for one who approached the president, but were silenced by a majority of the audience while the president carried on with his speech.

In his address to the parliament members, Peres said he "responded positively" to the Arab peace initiative. "However, it should be clear that agreement can not be achieved by a simple 'take-it-or-leave it' offer. We couldn't accept all the articles of the Arab Initiative. The truth is that it's hard to answer all demands at a time when some parties in the region reject peace. Hamas violently rejects compromise. It continues to fire rockets at Israeli civilians. We can understand land for peace but will not accept land in return for rocket fire."

Peres also said he believed an agreement could be reached with Saudi King Abdullah but was not sure Abdullah was ready to push for peace, at this time, with all the force of his kingdom.

Peres is scheduled to visit Buckingham Palace Thursday and meet Queen Elizabeth II, who will bestow an honorary knighthood on him. He will also meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

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  • ANALYSIS / Which peace initiative will Obama back?
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      1.   Settlement Construction 06:31  |  Steve 20/11/08
      2.   Now it`s a problem? 06:55  |  Suspicious 20/11/08
      3.   There are no Palistinians 07:03  |  Levi 20/11/08
      4.   Peres acknoledges no peace possible 07:11  |  spyguy 20/11/08
      5.   Luckily, There Will Be Neither Ethnic Cleansing Of Jews... 07:49  |  Yishai Kohen 20/11/08
      6.   Spyguy - Devasating threats 08:00  |  Reid 20/11/08
      7.   I feel sorry for them also spyguy, even the wingnuts... 08:05  |  BBSNews 20/11/08
      8.   LIAR ! Its ALL planned 08:30  |  Ahmed 20/11/08
      9.   The new pioneers. 08:31  |  Mario Sala 20/11/08
      10.   Israel knows how to win wars. Settlers, bring it on. 08:34  |  pat 20/11/08
      11.   A British Palestinian Passport? Hmmm 09:22  |  Edithann 20/11/08
      12.   #6, REID, has no clue 09:24  |  VIPER 20/11/08
      13.   EdithAnn 09:47  |  Mike 20/11/08
      14.   There will be elections and NOT civil war 09:56  |  Realist 20/11/08
      15.   The British mandate was a dark time, not cause for celebration 10:05  |  Uncle Sam 20/11/08
      16.   Shimon Peres using the "c" word........ 10:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/11/08
      17.   nonsense 10:39  |  Palestinian 20/11/08
      18.   JUST LEAVE, WHO CARES? 10:51  |  indrajaya 20/11/08
      19.   Time for Israel to push for peace, against settlers 10:59  |  Ivar 20/11/08
      20.   The word PEACE from the Pal government would not may help 11:06  |  PETER SM 20/11/08
      21.   President Peres` remarks to Parliament 1 11:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/11/08
      22.   Israel`s Course of Action..... 11:29  |  US CITIZEN 20/11/08
      23.   President Peres` remarks to Parliament 2 11:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/11/08
      24.   Edith Anne #11 11:44  |  An old Safta 20/11/08
      25.   #11 If it can be of some comfort, they tell me ... 12:10  |  Edith 20/11/08
      26.   Evacuation of settlers may lead to civil war? 12:11  |  Natallie Durson 20/11/08
      27.   #16 Swiss Dino, is it that serious? 12:13  |  Edith 20/11/08
      28.   #11 Edithan 12:27  |  Sarah 20/11/08
      29.   Edithann 12:30  |  Benjamina 20/11/08
      30.   # 16 "Swiss" Dino 12:33  |  Swissmartin 20/11/08
      31.   spyguy 13:28  |  lady from USA 20/11/08
      32.   lady from USA? thanks again for your vicious comments 15:03  |  and you complete 20/11/08
      33.   To Swiss Dino Jewish blood is not a problem? 15:33  |  CM 20/11/08
      34.   Another Stalling Tactic 15:35  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/11/08
      35.   Mrs CJ Regev #23 15:40  |  Roo 20/11/08
      36.   One must wonder if Peres is unaware that... 15:47  |  Esther 20/11/08
      37.   Swissmartin on criticism of the Jews 15:51  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/11/08
      38.   Eddithan #11 16:12  |  Mickey 20/11/08
      39.   What you tell us here is a typical right wing zionist lie 16:24  |  From Germany 20/11/08
      40.   Now I understand 16:24  |  Mikesailor 20/11/08
      41.   Juliette Harkin, an Oxford student? 16:25  |  Prof. Dr. R. B. 20/11/08
      42.   To Viper #12 16:26  |  Bas 20/11/08
      43.   Why forcibly evacuate the settlements? 17:02  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/11/08
      44.   lady from USA talking of 586 BC 17:05  |  jeremiah 20/11/08
      45.   Civil war...I said that several weeks ago! 17:07  |  Silvienne 20/11/08
      46.   Fear of civil war 17:43  |  sh 20/11/08
      47.   The students were NOT removed 18:24  |  Mira 20/11/08
      48.   What Peres said was 18:56  |  American in NY 20/11/08
      49.   Finally, the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth 19:19  |  Michael N 20/11/08
      50.   To Levi # 3 - Right! There never were a Palestinian people 20:17  |  Dolly 20/11/08
      51.   There will be no civil war 20:22  |  John 20/11/08
      52.   The real concern of the 1%ers 20:27  |  Arie 20/11/08
      53.   Shimon Perez 20:35  |  David 20/11/08
      54.   #37, Dolly...So what? There are now... 20:51  |  Silvienne 20/11/08
      55.   #38, John...but the settlers aren`t reasonable... 20:59  |  Silvienne 20/11/08
      56.   spyguy on Israel 21:28  |  Observer 20/11/08
      57.   #37 Michael N on truth 21:53  |  Observer 20/11/08
      58.   #44, Observer... 22:09  |  Silvienne 20/11/08
      59.   PALESTINIAN PASSPORTS 22:20  |  shoshanna 20/11/08
      60.   Benjamina 29: Jesus was an Israeli 22:42  |  Realist 20/11/08
      61.   Fatah didn`t dismantle Hamas,no rush to dismantle settlements 23:59  |  Sam 20/11/08
      62.   #58, Sam...easy for you to say... 00:45  |  Silvienne 21/11/08
      63.   34 Yaakov, Re Another Stalling tactics.... 00:50  |  Dutch 21/11/08
      64.   Jewish Lives Less Important Than Arabs Money And For That 00:55  |  Joseph.E 21/11/08
      65.   34, Yaakov, Peres propaganda... 00:59  |  Dutch 21/11/08
      66.   #56 Observer 01:09  |  Solomon 21/11/08
      67.   Sorry John, see #34 01:23  |  David M 21/11/08
      68.   Bas, Re: The standard of living 01:25  |  Dutch 21/11/08
      69.   Simple solution to the civil war 01:27  |  heinz 21/11/08
      70.   #35, from roo, to "(Mrs. CJ) Regev" 02:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/11/08
      71.   Silvienne-I suggest the Pals show some flexibility+speed up peace 03:18  |  Sam 21/11/08
      72.   45 Silvienne, Re: The settlers threat 03:53  |  Dutch 21/11/08
      73.   Stop creating, financing and sponsoring 04:05  |  Lady X 21/11/08
      74.   #57 observer 07:06  |  Michael N 21/11/08
      75.   #58 Silvienne: "Man cannot rely on any gods..." 07:26  |  hala 21/11/08
      76.   #60 Realist: Jesus an Israeli? 07:35  |  hala 21/11/08
      77.   Civil war? 07:52  |  Fair 21/11/08
      78.   #4 what if the settlers win spyguy? 08:38  |  very puzzled 21/11/08
      79.   #42, BAS, denying the facts 10:01  |  VIPER 21/11/08
      80.   peres pipes israel`s perennial PLOY perfectly! 11:03  |  eric 21/11/08
      81.   Which of the 3 points is it Peres cant accept? 15:19  |  American in NY 21/11/08
      82.   #71, Sam...I think you are joking... 18:22  |  Silvienne 21/11/08
      83.   Dutch... 18:29  |  Silvienne 21/11/08
      84.   Palestine is a Roman is the orginal Holocaust denial 19:16  |  r 21/11/08
      85.   Israel is both a democracy and a rogue state. 09:50  |  Rod 22/11/08
      86.   Israeli civil war 23:36  |  Sabah 22/11/08
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