TEL AVIV (AFP)
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday used a speech honoring slain premier Yitzhak Rabin to urge Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to stay in power despite frustrations over the peace process.
"We both signed the Oslo accords and I address myself to you (Abbas) as a colleague would: Don't give up," Peres said at a mass rally in a Tel Aviv square where Rabin was gunned down in 1995.
He was referring to the deal that gave Palestinians autonomy, which Peres and Abbas signed in 1993 at a White House ceremony overseen by then U.S. president Bill Clinton, Rabin and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
" I know the sufferings that your people have endured for the past 50 years... I know my people and the Israeli government and I tell you that Israel wants real peace " Israeli President Shimon Peres At the time, Peres was Israel's foreign minister while Abbas represented the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Abbas announced on Thursday he will not seek re-election in January, voicing annoyance at Washington's failure to press Israel to halt settlement constructions.
His decision has been seen as a major blow to Washington's Middle East efforts to re-launch peace talks frozen since Israel's devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip at the turn of the year.
"I know the sufferings that your people have endured for the past 50 years... I know my people and the Israeli government and I tell you that Israel wants real peace," Peres said.
"Maybe next year will bring independence for the Palestinian people... Next year could be decisive, it depends on you and on us," he added.
About 20,000 people massed in the square where Rabin was gunned down by a Jewish extremist on Nov. 4, 1995, after attending a peace rally. |
