Doha, Aug 14: Israeli president Moshe Katsav took to the airwaves of the Arab world's best known satellite television station Sunday to appeal for a comprehensive middle east peace.
"I invite Arab leaders to come to Jerusalem - and if they are not willing to ... Israeli leaders are ready to travel to any Arab capital or town - so that we can discuss how to arrive at a fair and lasting peace with the Arab world," Katsav said in an interview with al Jazeera television.
Israel was "sympathetic to the peace initiative of Saudi crown prince" Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, offering full normalization of relations in return for a full withdrawal from the occupied territories, Katzav said.
Katsav also used the interview with the Qatar-based satellite channel to take a swipe at Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whose replacement his government has demanded with US backing.
"We are disappointed with Yasser Arafat - we have not had a moment's respite in the past nine years (since the 1993 Oslo accords) because of the terrorist Palestinian militiamen who target Palestinian women and children," he said .

Bureau Report