Thursday, December 01, 2005

Peres joins Sharon

From Jerusalem Post Nov. 30, 2005 2:35 Updated Nov. 30, 2005 22:39 By GIL HOFFMAN AND JPOST.COM STAFF ...

Peres: Sharon only leader who can lead Israel to peace

After 61 years in the Labor party and a record 46 years in the Knesset, Shimon Peres announced on Wednesday evening that he was quitting party politics. 'My political party activities have come to an end... I intend to dedicate the next several years to the effort of bringing peace to our region,' Peres announced during a press conference he convened in his Tel Aviv office.

In his statement, Peres said that the current political setup could not lead to Mideast peace, and a new team was needed. "I believe the most qualified person to head this coalition, based on the test of experience, is Arik Sharon," he said, referring to Sharon by his nickname...."During recent talks with Sharon," Peres added, "I reached the conclusion that Sharon was adamant about implementing his agenda and will start doing so immediately after the elections. Sharon is serious about achieving peace."

..."When I spoke with Sharon, we discussed the creation of a regional triangle of Israel, the PA and Jordan that would enjoy a special status in the European Union. We also spoke about the importance of opening a dialogue with the US to ensure the safety of the region from the Iranian nuclear threat and from rampant terrorism," he said.

His decision to leave Labor drew a number of negative responses from across the political spectrum....

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