On the peace process, the President reiterated his view that Palestinian
Authority Chairman Abu Mazen is a serious and positive partner for peace

PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES MEETS WITH US SENATE DELEGATION
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL

Jerusalem, 8 January 2012

PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES MEETS WITH US SENATE DELEGATION

President Shimon Peres today (Sunday), 8.1.12, at his Jerusalem Residence,
met with a US Senate Appropriations Committee delegation led by Committee
Chairman Senator (D-HI) Daniel K. Inouye and including the Committee's
ranking Republican, Senator (R-MS) Thad Cochran, and senior Committee member
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD).

President Peres, on behalf of the citizens of the State of Israel, thanked
Sen. Inouye and told him that, "You stood by our side in the most demanding
and difficult moments." The President also thanked Sen. Cochran and Sen.
Mikulski and told them that, "Israel is lucky to have had the US by its side
over the course of history. And still today we are working together towards
a better Middle East, with freedom, equality and democracy for all."

The senators asked to hear President Peres' views on the peace process
between Israel and the Palestinians and on the changes in the Middle East;
they also discussed the Iranian issue. The President emphasized that Iran
should not be regarded just as a problem but as a tangible threat to peace
in the Middle East and around the world, and added that the solution to
preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons is in the hands of the
world's leaders and requires a broad coalition that will both enact clear
economic sanctions against it and set a clear red line that will prevent
Iran from developing nuclear weapons of mass destruction. On the peace
process, the President reiterated his view that Palestinian Authority
Chairman Abu Mazen is a serious and positive partner for peace and that
Israel and the Palestinians must proceed to direct and secret negotiations
toward a solution, given that the issues on the agenda are well-known.

Sen. Inouye thanked President Peres for the warm reception and added that,
"We are here because we want to demonstrate in this turbulent period that we
are with you."

For more information:

Ayelet Frish - Media Adviser to President Peres - 050-6205111

Meital Jaslovitz - Assistant Media Adviser
to President Peres - 050-4205230