President Shimon Peres received the Israeli Democracy Index 2011 from Dr. Arye Carmon , President of the Israeli Democracy Institute. The Democracy Index is published annually by the Guttman Center of the IDI. At a special ceremony presenting the report this morning, President Peres said: “We must create hope and vision, both in diplomacy and social-welfare for the good of the citizens of Israel. There are gaps between rich and poor, and between today and tomorrow, and just as we must fight for social-economic equality we must fight for and yearn for peace.”

The President referred to the most recent events at the United Nations General Assembly and said: “At the UN General Assembly in New York each leader was addressing the public opinion of his own people. On the day after we must work to bridge and close gaps that exist between both peoples. We must have a situation where the political and diplomatic distance is not greater than the geographic distance between Ramallah and Jerusalem.”

The President emphasized that he welcomes the Quartet’s initiative and the will of the member countries to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians. But, he said, “It was important to remember that true negotiations can only be direct between two sides, and not to internationalize the conflict and negotiations.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)