Peres for the establishment of a Palestinian state

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres expressed his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. "If Israel wants to be a Jewish state it needs a Palestinian state," adding that efforts should be exerted towards this end. Peres' statements were made following the signing of an accord in Bethlehem in the presence of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for the Peace Technology Fund on encouraging investment in the Palestinian territories on Tuesday.

Peres hoped for an upsurge in the Palestinian economy and urged the Israelis to cooperate on a large scale in the economic field with the Palestinians, noting that peace will put an end to "terrorism " and bring about "security."