Peres to Muslims: Peace is our goal

Israel's main goal is to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Shimon Peres told the country's Muslim and Druze leaders.

The Israeli president, speaking during an official visit to the Arab- Israeli city of Sakhnin in honor of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, called on Muslims throughout the world to advance moderation, brotherhood and reconciliation between peoples and religions.

"We must work together to bring a reduction in disparities in Israel, and we must work to make peace with our neighbors, the Arab states," he said. "These are the pure aspirations we must pursue despite the hardships along the way."

Peres added, "Indeed there were wars with Egypt and Jordan, and we nonetheless made peace with them." (JTA)