Arafat, Peres meet on developments in the region

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat discussed in Gaza on Thursday the latest developments in the region and the status of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian government, which were frozen recently by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under the pretext of the Israeli elections.

Replying to a question asked by Israel Radio on the possibility of the Labor government's recognition in the future of a Palestinian state, Peres said, "The most important is to reach an agreement on establishing a Palestinian state because the establishment of such a state is in the interest of Israel."

For his part, Arafat stressed strong efforts will be exerted by his government in order to reach peace between Israel and the Palestinians.