Peres Proposes Talks With Palestinians

2 hours, 20 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Israel would be ready to open negotiations with the Palestinians on a permanent peace accord after the country's elections on March 28, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Wednesday.

Peres said after meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the aim would be ending the conflict between the two sides and establishing permanent borders.

Implying that Israel was prepared to yield more territory, Peres told reporters, "We don't think of Gaza last but Gaza first."

Israel's withdrawal from Gaza was undertaken by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Critics said Sharon's aim was to solidify Israel's control of much of the West Bank afterward.

But Peres said Sharon, incapacitated by a stroke on Jan. 4, "really wanted to make a real try to bring an end to the conflict."

He said reports that Sharon intended to hold on to most of the West Bank as well as all of Jerusalem were wrong.

"My impression is he was ready to go a long way," Peres said.

Sharon had left Likud, a conservative party, and established Kadima, a centrist group more inclined to conciliatory moves.

Rice and other State Department officials made no statement after the meeting.

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