Israeli President Moshe Katsav appealed for a comprehensive Middle East peace during an interview with the Qatar-based al Jazeera TV.
"I invite Arab leaders to come to Jerusalem -- and if they are not willing to ... Israeli leaders are ready to travel to any Arab capital or town -- so that we can discuss how to arrive at a fair and lasting peace with the Arab world," Katsav said.
Israel was "sympathetic to the peace initiative of Saudi Crown Prince" Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz, Katzav added. "Israel did not reject the Saudi peace initiative. We invite the Saudi crown prince to Jerusalem to present his plan," Katzav stated.
But he complained that the Arab states had "not repeated the proposal and have preferred to carry on inciting bloodshed."
Katsav also used the interview to attack Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. "We are disappointed with Yasser Arafat ... we have not had a moment's respite in the past nine years (since the 1993 Oslo accords) ... because of the terrorist Palestinian militiamen who target Israeli women and children," he said.
"Had Arafat honoured his commitments over the past nine years ... the chances of peace would have been much better. Unfortunately the Palestinian leadership has never been serious and has never really wanted to make peace."
Katsav said there is no need for the Israelis and the Palestinians to waste time in mutual accusations and propaganda, and that the two sides must begin negotiations to ameliorate the situation of both peoples.
Katsav is the first high-ranking Israeli official to grant the station an interview, after an interview scheduled with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was cancelled shortly before it was to be aired. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
