Richard Beeston, New York | November 18, 2008
ISRAEL believes there is a chance for dialogue with Iran if Barack Obama succeeds in uniting the international community behind a common policy.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said his country's most implacable foe could be brought to the negotiating table, but it would depend on a new political climate and economic factors, in particular a falling oil price.
The 85-year-old politician said he expected Israel to achieve peace with its Arab neighbours in his lifetime, and even predicted that he would one day visit Damascus and Riyadh.
Mr Peres's upbeat message will no doubt be dismissed by many in the Middle East as the musings of a lifelong optimist.
Certainly no recent Israeli leader has expressed any positive view of Iran, whose nuclear policy and support for militant groups are regarded as the major threats to the Jewish state.
But Mr Peres insisted he could see new opportunities in the region, citing his invitation to attend a multi-faith conference in New York last week, initiated by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
"If there will be a united policy on Iran and there is a new (lower) price for oil, then Iran will have to come to terms with a proportionate reality of our times," the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former prime minister said.
"If the Iranians feel there is a body politic behind (the push for talks) and they cannot just escape by sending (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad to spread quick wisdom, then there is a chance."
But he said no progress was possible until Iran had met three conditions: to halt its controversial nuclear and ballistic missile programs, to withdraw support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and to stop the use of "terror".
His remarks coincided with a major US policy review of relations with Iran, which President George W. Bush included in his "axis of evil".
President-elect Barack Obama has hinted he is prepared for "direct diplomacy" with Tehran.
There is even talk of opening a US interests section in Tehran, the first diplomatic mission since the 1979 Iranian revolution, when the US embassy was seized by students and US diplomats were held hostage for more than a year.
Mr Peres held out hopes that Israel could reach a "land for peace" agreement with Syria over the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War.
"I think Israel is ready to make peace with Syria and pay the cost," he said, confirming talks with Damascus were continuing.
But he warned the regime of President Bashar al-Assad that peace was "not a cocktail".
Mr Peres said Israel would accept a deal only if Syria halted its support for militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
"The problem with Syria is not so much the land but the peace," he said. "Several Israeli prime ministers indicated they are ready to give back the land. But the Syrians do not indicate they are ready to provide peace."
As for Britain, Mr Peres said it could play an important role in the region, though he did admit being concerned about growing anti-Israeli sentiment in the country.
"I don't understand the criticism," he said.
"Why are they criticising us? That war is an ugly story. We know it. I can assure them we did not invite it and we are not happy with it, and as we have shown, we are ready to pay the cost. I do not take their superior position. They do not go into the realities of the situation. They just want to be politically correct."
ISRAEL believes there is a chance for dialogue with Iran if Barack Obama succeeds in uniting the international community behind a common policy.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said his country's most implacable foe could be brought to the negotiating table, but it would depend on a new political climate and economic factors, in particular a falling oil price.
The 85-year-old politician said he expected Israel to achieve peace with its Arab neighbours in his lifetime, and even predicted that he would one day visit Damascus and Riyadh.
Mr Peres's upbeat message will no doubt be dismissed by many in the Middle East as the musings of a lifelong optimist.
Certainly no recent Israeli leader has expressed any positive view of Iran, whose nuclear policy and support for militant groups are regarded as the major threats to the Jewish state.
But Mr Peres insisted he could see new opportunities in the region, citing his invitation to attend a multi-faith conference in New York last week, initiated by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
"If there will be a united policy on Iran and there is a new (lower) price for oil, then Iran will have to come to terms with a proportionate reality of our times," the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former prime minister said.
"If the Iranians feel there is a body politic behind (the push for talks) and they cannot just escape by sending (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad to spread quick wisdom, then there is a chance."
But he said no progress was possible until Iran had met three conditions: to halt its controversial nuclear and ballistic missile programs, to withdraw support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and to stop the use of "terror".
His remarks coincided with a major US policy review of relations with Iran, which President George W. Bush included in his "axis of evil".
President-elect Barack Obama has hinted he is prepared for "direct diplomacy" with Tehran.
There is even talk of opening a US interests section in Tehran, the first diplomatic mission since the 1979 Iranian revolution, when the US embassy was seized by students and US diplomats were held hostage for more than a year.
Mr Peres held out hopes that Israel could reach a "land for peace" agreement with Syria over the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War.
"I think Israel is ready to make peace with Syria and pay the cost," he said, confirming talks with Damascus were continuing.
But he warned the regime of President Bashar al-Assad that peace was "not a cocktail".
Mr Peres said Israel would accept a deal only if Syria halted its support for militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
"The problem with Syria is not so much the land but the peace," he said. "Several Israeli prime ministers indicated they are ready to give back the land. But the Syrians do not indicate they are ready to provide peace."
As for Britain, Mr Peres said it could play an important role in the region, though he did admit being concerned about growing anti-Israeli sentiment in the country.
"I don't understand the criticism," he said.
"Why are they criticising us? That war is an ugly story. We know it. I can assure them we did not invite it and we are not happy with it, and as we have shown, we are ready to pay the cost. I do not take their superior position. They do not go into the realities of the situation. They just want to be politically correct."
Source:The Australian from the Times
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