Peres calls for establishment of Palestinian state with temporary borders

Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Thursday stated Israel and the Palestinians should advance to the second stage of the road map peace plan which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders. Peres made these comments as he with the European Union's chief foreign policy official, Javier Solana, to discuss the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

According to Peres, Israel and the Palestinians should agree on the declaration of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, "subject to a clear promise that the border will in a short span of time become permanent borders." "The road map presents us with a clear outline and the second stage must be implemented," Peres told Solana.

On his part, the EU official called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. "I would like to hear a speech in which there's a commitment of the government to the two-state solution, a commitment of the government on the question of settlements and a commitment to re-initiate relations with the Palestinians," Solana was quoted as saying by AFP.

"This is what we expect to hear and I am sure that we will hear something of that nature," said Solana.