BICOM

President Shimon Peres yesterday told a delegation of US Democratic congressmen that it is still possible to reach peace with the Palestinians. Peres said both sides know what they need to do to overcome the differences and renew negotiations, and that this should happen ahead of the UN General Assembly session to vote on Palestinian statehood. Peres, who recently met with the Palestinian leadership, also told the US delegations that there is a difference between the public declarations and what the Palestinians say in private meetings. Peres added that from his personal conversations with Palestinian leaders, they were not convinced that going to the UN for a vote is their best option.

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer told Peres that he believed the US would veto any Palestinian attempt to receive recognition through the United Nations Security Council. Hoyer also said that negotiations without preconditions are the best way for peace to be achieved.

In a separate development, the Interior Minister Eli Yishai has given final authorisation to build 1,600 new apartments in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. The 1,600 apartments caused a diplomatic rift last year between Israel and the US when they were approved by the ministry during a visit to Israel by US Vice President Joe Biden.