Peres: World gained false impression of Gaza offensive

President Shimon Peres on Monday said that the world had gained a false impression of Israel's 22-day offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

"The treatment of the military operation in Gaza was a combination of a false televised impression, and a tendency to seek the worst," said Peres at a conference in Herzliya.

The president's comments came after he verbally sparred with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a debate last week on the hostilities in Gaza at the World Economic Forum. The clash made headlines worldwide after Erdogan stormed off the stage in protest against Peres' comments.

Peres, in a wide-ranging address, also spoke of the future of peace negotiations with the Palestinians in light of the campaign in Gaza.

"It's possible that Hamas will try its luck again. And Fatah won't give up on its path," he said, referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' rival movement. "We will need to choose between war on Hamas as a first option and pay its price, or progress in negotiations with the Palestinians - to expedite them, and complete them during the beginning of the next government's term."

But Peres added that, "It's possible that we will need to combine the two, despite the contradiction."

Peres also warned that, "If we bring down Hamas, we will find ourselves responsible for Gaza, and for its reconstruction, development and welfare." He was referring to calls by Israeli politicians for the toppling of the Islamist militant group's regime in Gaza.

The president called upon the Israeli public to turn out for next week's general election. "We must all determine the path that we choose, and how deeply we support it. Mass participation will strengthen Israel's democracy."

Peres referred to public discourse over some Arab parties running in the elections, after the Supreme Court overturned a Knesset decision to ban them.

"I too find some of the things said by Arab MKs hard to accept, and of those who oppose them" he said. "But I'm proud of the Israeli Knesset, which includes representatives of the Arab minority and is free to make its voice heard within democratic boundaries that oblige all MKs to refrain from incitement to violence."