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Last update - 01:05 31/01/2007 Emir of Qatar tells Peres that Israel must talk to Hamas By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent DOHA - The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, told Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Tuesday that Israel must talk to the ruling Palestinian Hamas movement, adding that peace with the Palestinians would affect Israel's relationship with the entire Arab world. Peres told the emir in response that it was Hamas who refused to talk to Israel. "In his judgement, if Israel would go back to the '67 border, Hamas will make peace with Israel," Peres told reporters after the meeting. "He [Sheikh Hamad] says Hamas was elected, he thinks Hamas is more pragmatic than we think." Advertisement "I told him that Hamas refused to meet. Hamas has announced it will not recognize signed agreements between us and the Palestinians," Peres said The vice premier arrived in Doha on Monday, for his first visit to Qatar since 1996. He is accompanied by a group of Israeli journalists, marking the first time Qatar has permitted Israeli journalists to accompany an official visit to the country. During the meeting Peres asked the Qatari ruler to continue in his efforts to aid the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. He presented the emir with a plan for an economic corridor between Aqaba and the Yarmuk River, which would include plans for a water canal. The emir invited Israelis to study in Qatar, to which Peres responded that any Israeli who wanted to would be welcome to do so. With regard to the Iran, Peres told the emir that Israel did not have a problem with Tehran but with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad himself. This problem was shared by the rest of the world, Peres said, adding that Iranians were suffering from poverty and distress. "You cannot feed your children with enriched uranium for breakfast, you need something more than that," he said. Peres said that the emir told him he was happy to hear that he was running for the presidency. The Israeli mission in Qatar, which is not considered an official embassy, has continued to operate in Doha in recent years. The relations between Israel and Qatar are ongoing, despite the tensions between the countries over Doha's close relationship with Tehran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. In December, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas visited the country, and Qatar promised to grant him millions of dollars in aid in order to allow him to pay teachers' salaries. The money was ultimately transferred through the Arab League Bookmark to del.icio.us   Personalized workout Boutique gyms is the next big thing - for those who can pay. No to non-violence 'Human chain' against the blockade on gaza yields disappointing turnout.   1.   Unwanted and uncalled for advice 17:20  |  bimmer 30/01/07   2.   Let see if the Emir can get Hamas to recognize Israel 17:39  |  albert amato 30/01/07   3.   Talk to Hamas Crap 17:40  |  Brod 30/01/07   4.   What right does bin Khalifa al-Thani to tell Israel what to do? 17:40  |  Marwan مروان خوري 30/01/07   5.   Peres in Dubai. Hmmm... 17:43  |  skeptical 30/01/07   6.   He is right 17:44  |  Jack 30/01/07   7.   #1. Who must talk, and what must they say? 17:53  |  Polybios 30/01/07   8.   # 5 Skeptic 18:01  |  ChanahS 30/01/07   9.   to #7 Excellent ......but Utopian 18:03  |  bimmer 30/01/07   10.   8chana...sour grapes cannot nearly describe... 18:18  |  skeptical 30/01/07   11.   respect to the Emir for having to courage to talk to Israel 18:24  |  paul 30/01/07   12.   #2 Albert Amato 18:28  |  Labhras 30/01/07   13.   Bimmer... 18:31  |  Polybios 30/01/07   14.   A Good Advice! 18:32  |  Arik 30/01/07   15.   Quassams Shmassams Should Be More Up Front! 18:44  |  Yosemite 30/01/07   16.   # 7 Polybios and his wish-list..... 18:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/01/07   17.   Qatar and Al-Jazerah 18:51  |  t 30/01/07   18.   Wake up Jack 18:52  |  Michael 30/01/07   19.   The WAY of the ISLAMIST won`t permit peace 19:01  |  Dr Dave 30/01/07   20.   Really bad advice, Arik #14 19:07  |  Polybios 30/01/07   21.   A wise man who listens becomes wiser 19:10  |  Goren 30/01/07   22.   The Honorable Amir is less than honest. 19:15  |  David 30/01/07   23.   Some of u are unbelievable 19:26  |  lennybruce 30/01/07   24.   #5 skeptical 19:27  |  Realistic Arab 30/01/07   25.   Re:#12 Rhabas..The Israel that will get bigger and bigger 19:28  |  albert amato 30/01/07   26.   Swiss Dino #16 19:28  |  Polybios 30/01/07   27.   all the posters thus far are from outside the ME , sigh or sigh 19:30  |  Sam (UK) 30/01/07   28.   Let the Emir host a meeting... 19:32  |  R 30/01/07   29.   20# Polybios 19:38  |  Arik 30/01/07   30.   AZ OT HIM GEZOOGT 19:40  |  GF 30/01/07   31.   Al Jazeera 19:45  |  David 30/01/07   32.   Sam, that`s one big ad hominem argument 19:49  |  Polybios 30/01/07   33.   t # 17: you`ll find it on alarabia 19:51  |  Karam 30/01/07   34.   Amir of Qatar, talk to Hamas about the time table for our........ 19:52  |  Nadav 30/01/07   35.   Double standards 20:02  |  Democratic American 30/01/07   36.   #29 Arik 20:08  |  Polybios 30/01/07   37.   hamas stands for Islamic hegemon not palestinian freedom! 20:15  |  Jim 30/01/07   38.   #35 "Democratic" American 20:20  |  Polybios 30/01/07   39.   #25 albert amato 20:26  |  Labhras 30/01/07   40.   Censorship 20:29  |  Schlash 30/01/07   41.   36# Polybios: Writing On the Wall 20:33  |  Arik 30/01/07   42.   Marwan just a message 20:34  |  Lynn 30/01/07   43.   # 26 Polybios 20:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/01/07   44.   # 23 lennybruce 20:36  |  Lynn 30/01/07   45.   # 35 Double Standars? 20:39  |  Lynn 30/01/07   46.   Polybios # 32 20:45  |  Sam (UK) 30/01/07   47.   Very pessimistic, Dino #43 20:55  |  Polybios 30/01/07   48.   #35 Democratic American 21:01  |  Avi 30/01/07   49.   Sam UK #46 21:08  |  Polybios 30/01/07   50.   To Democratic America-I Agree With You 21:12  |  Dick Hertz 30/01/07   51.   To #38, #45, and #48 21:21  |  Democratic American 30/01/07   52.   Advice from a frightened autocrat 21:46  |  Voice of Reason 30/01/07   53.   Peres is Getting Embarrassing 21:47  |  Tod Zuckerman 30/01/07   54.   #31 Al Jazeera 21:55  |  t 30/01/07   55.   Yes and No, D.A. #51 22:01  |  Polybios 30/01/07   56.   DemAm et al.. 22:23  |  Mike 30/01/07   57.   to #51 22:37  |  MLK 30/01/07   58.   Polybios # 52 - You Added an Excellent Perspective 22:42  |  Dick Hertz 30/01/07   59.   Emir of Qatar Kiss my Jewish backside 22:51  |  Steven 30/01/07   60.   Good points ,No 35,but this is for No 38 23:47  |  Billy T 30/01/07   61.   this is the man that wants to be president. 23:47  |  harv 30/01/07   62.   "We have to be bolder" 23:53  |  Fritz 30/01/07   63.   Who started all of this 00:44  |  El Masry 31/01/07   64.   Negotiations with Hamas? 00:46  |  ATLAS 31/01/07   65.   RE Steve #59, that was fun 01:03  |  Raed 31/01/07   66.   59 # Steven 01:10  |  Sam (UK) 31/01/07   67.   hmmm, how nice, looking into the follies of one side 03:00  |  A critic 31/01/07   68.   I understand what you all are trying to say... 04:37  |  Democratic American 31/01/07   69.   offensive to Israel, Haaretz, Abbas and PA 15:42  |  Yalie 25/02/08

Today Online Gaza protest of Israeli siege yields disappointing turnout Responses: 447 Bradley Burston: Palestine's doomsday weapon - non-violence - fails its test Responses: 203 Canadian Jew loses bid to have 'Jerusalem, Israel' in passport Responses: 134 Obama`s top adviser: Israel and Arabs must negotiate own peace Responses: 160 Akiva Eldar: AIPAC does not even bother to rally for two-state solution Responses: 86 Rosner's Domain "Reasonable people can agree or disagree on meeting Ahmadinejad" Clinton allies say: Obama bad for Israel (WTR) Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother More Headlines 09:25 High Court upholds Katsav sex crimes plea bargain 07:55 Iran ordered to pay $33 million to murdered Israeli diplomat's family 07:39 ANALYSIS: In the end blood was shed in Sderot, not Gaza 02:13 Report: Widow of slain Hezbollah terrorist blames Syria for killing 06:46 Store manager fined for employing Jewish workers on Shabbat 07:26 Israeli diplomat postpones meeting after Costa Rica recognizes Palestinian state 06:22 Iran UN envoy: Exiled group feeding U.S. lies on weapons plan 03:08 Olmert aides: Demonstration in Gaza 'much ado about nothing' 01:39 Will Obama be supportive of an Israel controlled by a Likud government? 06:06 Australian soccer player to be disciplined for dressing as Hitler 08:35 Vets mend sea turtle's limb in first operation of its kind in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb

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