Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres called on Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat today to leave the world of terrorism" following devastating terrorist attacks in the United States a day earlier.
"Yasser Arafat now has an opportunity to turn the page and definitively leave the world of terrorism; this is the real test for him. One cannot live in two worlds, being involved in terrorism while wishing to be accepted in the world," Mr Peres said on Israeli public radio.
"I hope the Palestinians will draw the conclusion that there are moments in life when one has to give up smoking if one does not want to contract lung cancer," said the Israeli minister who had been scheduled to meet Mr Arafat said.
"If the Palestinians remain within the world of terrorism, the world will be against them," he added.
Mr Peres said he was hopeful his planned talks with Mr Arafat would still go ahead to discuss a possible truce to quell almost a year of bloodshed.
"If the Palestinians leave the world of terrorism we can resume our negotiations," he said.
He added that that it was up to the United States "to direct the struggle against terrorism," he also proposed the creation of an international "army to lead the war against terrorism, because the struggle can only be global."
AFP