Israeli President Moshe Katsav has expressed hope that China
would use its influence to make more contributions to the Mideast
peace process.
China "has very good relations with the Arab world. I hope China
to contribute positively to the relations between Israel and Arab
world," Katsav said.
Katsav made the remarks during an interview with Chinese
journalists at his presidential office in West Jerusalem last
Monday before he leaves for China for an official visit on Saturday
evening.
During the visit, he will exchange views with Chinese leadership
on the Israel-Arab conflict and other common issues, according to
the 58-year-old Iran-born Jewish President.
Katsav said "I think the channel for dialogue should be opened
and Israel is very serious for a political solution with the
Palestinians."
However, the former hawkish minister of Sharon's Likud Group
said Israel will not accept a partial ceasefire, but a
comprehensive ceasefire.
"Israel hopes that the Palestinians could reach a ceasefire, but
there should be a ceasefire or not a ceasefire, a comprehensive
ceasefire is a total ceasefire," he said.
On the Geneva initiatives, Katsav said he encourages dialogue
between the Palestinians and Israel, adding that dialogue is very
important because during the last three years, there are too many
disconnections and misunderstandings between the two sides.
"However, the roadmap is only map for Mideast peace process," he
said, adding only the Israeli government and parliament have the
right to raise political initiatives.
"We should give priority to the roadmap and see what we can
implement," the president said.
The Geneva initiative, drafted by Israeli and Palestinian
moderates and launched in Geneva on Dec. 1, calls for shared
sovereignty over Jerusalem, Israel's removal of most Jewish
settlements from occupied land and the right of Israel to decide
how many Palestinian refugees from wars since 1948 would
return.
As to recent disputes between Israel and the United States,
Katsav said the United States is the best friend of Israel and "
between brothers and friends there will be some differences,"
adding the difference is "not significant."
On the China-Israel relations, Katsav, former chairmen of
Israel-China friendship committee of Israeli Parliament, said "I am
very glad to see the relations of two countries is becoming
stronger year after year."
One of the main purposes of my visit is to enlarge the
cooperation between Israel and china in the field of science and
technology for the benefit of both countries, he said, stressing "
The cooperation upon science and technology between Israel and
China is excellent."
"I hope my visit will make improvement of the relations between
Israel and China on economy and culture," he added.
katsav noted both China and Israel have very ancient history and
they "have many common values and aspects."
Recalling his two visits to China in the past decade, the
president said "I regarded myself as one of best friends of China,"
and he is astonished by China's recent dramatic developments.
Born in 1945 in Iran, Katsav immigrated to Israel in 1951 and is
a father of five. He was elected in 2000 as the president of the
State of Israel by defeating the world-famous Israeli Labor veteran
Shimon Peres.
It is Katsav's first state visit to China and the first state
visit of an Israeli president to China in five years. Katsav will
arrive in Hongkong on Sunday and then travel to Beijing next
Wednesday.
He will be accompanied by President of the Israel National
Academy of Science Ya'akov Ziv, Likud Party Chairman of Parliament
Lawmaker Gidon Saar, Labor Party Chairman of Parliament Lawmaker
Daliah Itzik, General Director of the Israeli Industrialist Union,
Yoram Blizovski and Chairman of the Israel Export Institute Shraga
Barush.
During the week-long visit, Katsav will meet his Chinese
counterpart Hu Jintao, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and
Chinese parliamentary chief Wu Bangguo, according to Israeli
Presidential Office.
He will inaugurate the new Israeli embassy in China and will
meet with leaders of the Jewish community there.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2003)