"I have known President Abbas for many years and I believe he really wants
peace"

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Once again President Shimon Peres opts to promote
the Palestinians in meetings with foreigners.

Considering that we faced the possibility that Moslem Brotherhood's take
over of Egypt would be permanent Mr. Peres would be well advised to
reconsider citing the treaty with Egypt as proof of anything.]

President Peres Meets with US Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John
Barrasso

President Shimon Peres, this evening (Saturday, 4 January 2014), at his
Jerusalem residence, held a working meeting with US Senators John McCain
(R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Barrasso (R-WY). The Republican
senators, who arrived from Afghanistan, are visiting as part of a wider tour
of the region.

President Peres began the meeting by thanking the senators for coming and
said, "It's a time of decisions, all decisions are tough but not to make a
decision is a mistake. Secretary Kerry in investing significant time and
effort and I believe that peace is possible despite the difficulties. Before
peace with Egypt people said it's impossible. With the Palestinians it's
complicated for them and for us. I have known President Abbas for many years
and I believe he really wants peace. There has been some progress but the
major decisions are before us and we have to do what we can. It's a changing
world, a changing Middle East."

President Peres and the senators also discussed the Iranian nuclear threat
and President Peres said, "Terror is the greatest danger for the Arab world.
There is almost no coherent Arab country left because of terror. Russia is
also undergoing this awful experience. As well as what we have put before
the Iranians we have to put two more issues - one is the development of long
range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, they don't need nuclear
missiles if they don't want nuclear weapons. The second thing is stopping
Iranian intervention in terror across the world; they are engaged,
unfortunately, everywhere.

Senator John McCain thanked President Peres and said, "We've had good
meetings with the Prime Minister, with President Abbas, with Secretary Kerry
and we have room for guarded optimism. It's a very difficult process but we
appreciate Secretary Kerry's great efforts and we also see a willingness
that hasn't necessarily always been there in the past. On Iran, we share
your comments and we also continue to be worried about Syria."

For additional information:

Ayelet Frish – Spokesperson and Media Adviser to the President of Israel,
050-6205111

Yair Zivan – International Media Coordinator, Office of the President of
Israel, 052-3450061