Israel to Seize Opportunity for Peace: Israeli FM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, May 11, 2003

Israel to Seize Opportunity for Peace: Israeli FM

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Saturday night that the time has come to take serious choices for peace in the region, vowing Israel is determined to seize opportunity to reach the peace.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Saturday night that the time has come to take serious choices for peace in the region, vowing Israel is determined to seize opportunity to reach the peace.

Speaking at a joint press conference held in Jerusalem with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Shalom urged the Palestinian leadership to determinedly fight against terror, noting that the conflict Israel has is not with the Palestinian people.

"Our only conflict is with Palestinian leadership, not with the Palestinian people," Shalom said

"If Palestinians are serious, they will find us as real partner for peace, willing to renew negotiations," said the foreign minister.

He also warned that if the Palestinian leadership can not eliminate terrorist organizations through determined measures, the region would not face a better atmosphere in the future.

On his occasion, Powell urged both Israel and the Palestinians to take effective measures to promote the US-backed roadmap peace plan, ending the 31-month-long conflict between the two sides.

"There is a need to end violence and terror now, and there is a need to make life easier for Palestinian people," said Powell.

Powell said the Palestinian side must not allow groups to continue their terror activities and constitute threat to Israeli civilians, and that Israel should stop its settlement activity.

Powell arrived in Israel Saturday evening, kicking off his new round of diplomatic mediation in the region to urge Israel and the Palestinians to implement the US-sponsored roadmap peace plan.

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