Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., July 05, 2008 Tamuz 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

President Shimon Peres and his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski walking past Polish sailors during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw on Wednesday. (AP) Last update - 17:38 17/04/2008 Peres in Poland: Israel ready to forgo land to achieve real peace By Haaretz Service and DPA Tags: Poland, Warsaw Ghetto  President Shimon Peres addressed the Polish parliament in Warsaw Thursday and said his country was prepared to compromise on territorial issues in the search for a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. "We are ready to forgo land in order to reach a genuine peace with the Palestinians and grant them the possibility to found their own state," Peres told the parliament at the end of his four-day visit to the central European country in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during World War II. This neighboring Palestinian state should "flourish economically, strive for peace and live in freedom," he said. Advertisement Israel returned to Egypt "all territories, all the water and oil" in exchange for peace, the president told Poland's parliament, referring to Israel's return in 1982 of the Sinai peninsula, which Israel conquered in battle during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Peres pointed to Europe as an example of how "thousands of years of war" could be successfully ended and said that Israelis, like Europe, had to seek to overcome the conflicts of the past. Peres also praised the positive changes in Polish attitudes toward Israel, recognizing in this regard former Polish president Lech Walesa as well as the current President Lech Kaczynski. In his address, Peres lamented the fate of Polish Jews during the second world war, saying in Hebrew "I have come to you in the name of the living and the dead and in the name of those who will be born tomorrow." "The entire rich fabric of life that Polish Jews conducted was completely destroyed during World War II. After the war, the communist party secretary tragically pressured the 70,000 surviving Jews to leave their land," he continued. Peres said this was not his first visit to Poland, but "the appearance here as president of Israel is especially moving for me." Peres also mentioned the blossoming of Zionism in the European country. He said that most Israeli political parties were founded in Poland. "In our first Knesset, 61 out of the 120 members originated from Poland," said Peres. "And in the country's temporary government, led by David Ben-Gurion, six out of 13 ministers were of Polish origin." Peres weaved into his address the shared history of the two nations. "Jews lived and died here. We won't forget that, just as we won't forget the great tragedy that occurred after the Nazis took control of Poland." Leading up to Peres' speech, the Polish parliament passed a special decision marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Peres marked the occasion by saying "We are lowering our flags in memory of the uprising, a singular example of the struggle of a few against the well-oiled machine of the devil. The few paid with their lives, but the devil resolved to serve as a mortal danger to all of humanity." The president, himself Polish-born, focused his address on World War II and the Jews' fate in Poland, and mentioned his family members who perished in the Holocaust. Peres also attacked the anti-Semitism that is running rampant in the world. At the end of his address, Peres said that Israel and the "new Poland" can realize good and positive relations. "In light of the good memories and in the shadow of the bad ones, we can strive together toward a future of peace, fraternity and justice," he said. "The new Poland is one of Israel's best friends in the European Union." Related articles: Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace Zahar: Gazans can do 'no less' than rise up like Warsaw Ghetto Jews Peres to declare reconciliation between secular and Haredim Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Colombian Entebbe' Israelis contributed to the dramatic Colombia rescue of 15 hostages. Handshake controversy Iraqi MPs voice their rage at President Talabani for shaking the hand of Ehud Barak.   1.   It`s the 65th anniversary 16:14  |  Barry 17/04/08   2.   65 YEARS SINCE WARSAW UPRISING 16:23  |  Mitch 17/04/08   3.   isn`t it time peres joined the dead? 16:25  |  propud jooo 17/04/08   4.   COMMEMORATION 17:20  |  Richard 17/04/08   5.   Mr. President... What Land 18:19  |  Ray 17/04/08   6.   #3How could you, Haaretz, print the sick post 18:23  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 17/04/08   7.   I was thinking we need to take more land from the Pals 18:25  |  Kipperraes 17/04/08   8.   nations words and equations 19:14  |  montgomery rosen 17/04/08   9.   No Land for Jewkillers 19:40  |  BobUSA 17/04/08   10.   Peres can`t speak for Israel. And our land isn`t his to give away 19:48  |  Chaim 17/04/08   11.   The founding of this artificial state in 1947 was perhaps a 20:11  |  lakshmi 17/04/08   12.   Peres and his fantasy 20:25  |  Brod 17/04/08   13.   land for peace 20:28  |  ( Willow ) maria 17/04/08   14.   forgo land...? 20:29  |  ravi 17/04/08   15.   Max Z.:The Chief Hog in "Animal Farm" has had some achievements 20:37  |  Absolute Sweden 17/04/08   16.   Depends who is defining "Real Peace" 21:10  |  Robert F 17/04/08   17.   Mitch @ 2 21:20  |  Greg 17/04/08   18.   lakshmi - Why do you really hate Jews? 21:54  |  Ben 17/04/08   19.   Forgoing land? 23:22  |  Brod 17/04/08   20.   Honor the 65th anniversary by defending Jewish lives in Sderot 23:29  |  Daniel 17/04/08   21.   What land?! Two-and-a-half outposts in the WB,,,?! 00:52  |  Esther 18/04/08   22.   Political Statement against Constitution ! 01:13  |  Michael 18/04/08   23.   Terror is a blood infection 00:41  |  Bretware 05/07/08

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