Israel to move forward with two-state solution

Israeli president Shimon Peres said on Sunday that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will endorse a two-state solution of the Palestine conflict, as Mideast leaders closed the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in Jordan.

''The prime minister has said that he will abide by all the commitments made by previous governments,'' Peres said, adding that this includes accepting the Roadmap for Peace.

''The present government of Israel has announced that they’re going to abide by past commitments of the past government, and the previous government adopted the Roadmap, which has clear references to a two-state solution.''

He also urged Syria to engage in direct peace talks with Israel.

Peres made the remarks at a sometimes heated meeting with journalists; fearing his question may not be answered otherwise, one Arab reporter chose to shout it out to the Israeli president without the benefit of a microphone.

Other leaders called on the new US administration to push progress on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which they said lies at the heart of instability in the region.

''There must be a viable Palestinian state and a comprehensive peace that should involve Syria and Lebanon,'' said Amre Moussa, secretary general of the League of Arab States.

He stressed that any discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme cannot ignore ''the nuclear situation in Israel [which] has to be tackled on the international level''.

However, Peres countered that the international community should take into account what ''intention'' a country has with its weapons.

Time is of the essence in the Palestine conflict, warned Moussa. "We are not ready for an open ended process. That's why I have emphasised the point that this year has to witness progress."

In return for a settlement of the conflict, ''we would offer recognition of Israel by 57 Muslim states, confidence building measures, and Israel’s security and peace in this area,'' said Jordanian prime minister Nader Dahabi.

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