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Peres tells new Knesset to reach peace deal by end of term
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Knesset, Israel News 

President Shimon Peres urged the new parliament to wrap up a peace accord with the Palestinians by the end of its term, as the 18th Knesset opened its first session on Tuesday.

Peres told lawmakers that peace with the Palestinians would be recognized as a regional peace with all of Israel's neighbors, adding that negotiations must continue until an accord has been found.

It was time, he said, to put war aside.
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The president called for parliamentary unity in order to deal with the manifold challenges facing Israel. "The newly elected Knesset counts twelve parties, but that does not mean that we have to be divided along those lines. The demands of the hour must unite us," Peres told lawmakers.

He listed the main challenges facing Israel concluding negotiations with the Palestinians, improving education, advancing Israel scientifically and presenting Israel as an enlightened nation.

Peres also mentioned the global economic crisis that has been wreaking havoc on Israel. "Like the rest of the world, we too are enduring an acute economic crisis," he told the Knesset.

"We have to find creative solutions to overcome the crisis," he said. "The weak, elderly, and young cannot wait. "We have to do it right away, despite the critical issues that menace us, like Iran's nuclear program and the threats of terror in the north and the south."

Continuing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority will help Israel on a number of levels, the president said.

"Peace will create a new economic reality - for us and for our neighbors. It will enable both of us to close social gaps," he told lawmakers.

On Friday, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu accepted a mandate from Peres to form Israel's next government. Netanyahu has said he wishes to forge a broad coalition involving parties to the left of his right-wing. But Tzipi Livni, who heads the centrist Kadima party, has recently rejected an offer from him to join such a government.

The president opened the address by describing his long relationship with the parliament.

"Fifty years ago I was elected to the Knesset. I entered this House with trepidation and great expectations. I have loved this House ever since. It is a tremendously animated place; there is never a drop of boredom," he said.


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      1.   Unbelieveable 17:04  |  Amazed 24/02/09
      2.   israel can livel peacfully with its neighbors 17:10  |  bashar 24/02/09
      3.   israel can livel peacfully with its neighbors 17:13  |  bashar 24/02/09
      4.   Peres 18:11  |  Steve 24/02/09
      5.   MK Ben Ari is right 18:13  |  Damon 24/02/09
      6.   Peace in some form 18:45  |  Ze 24/02/09
      7.   Peace in some form dux 18:52  |  Ze 24/02/09
      8.   # 1 Amazed he said something else 18:59  |  abraham 24/02/09
      9.   Typical smokescreen 19:06  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/02/09
      10.   "...reach peace deal by end of term" Really? Peace by edict? 20:27  |  common sense 24/02/09
      11.   8khalil-"i hope that israel learned a lesson from withdrawal..." 20:39  |  bat yam 24/02/09
      12.   " never a drop of boredom" is the understatement... 21:16  |  Smadar 24/02/09
      13.   Peace is not possible.... 21:23  |  Natallie Durson 24/02/09
      14.   Same old, same old 22:31  |  David 24/02/09
      15.   Israel isn`t the problem. 22:33  |  philtlucre 24/02/09
      16.   The Man who was born a deamer & lives in a fools Paradise. 22:38  |  Akran 24/02/09
      17.   The Man who was born a deamer & lives in a fools Paradise. 22:40  |  Akram Zekaria 24/02/09
      18.   #13 Natallie Don`t blame America.... peace agreement possible 22:47  |  Smadar 24/02/09
      19.   Peres has a great sense of humour 08:59  |  peacelover 25/02/09
      20.   correct, if the neighbours share that wish. 12:35  |  Roland 25/02/09
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