ConcernedPakistani
MPA (400+ posts)
Israeli president Shimon Peres congratulates Pakistan's Musharraf on win
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli President Shimon Peres sent a letter congratulating Gen. Pervez Musharraf on his victory in Pakistan's presidential election, Peres' office said Monday, offering a surprising gesture of support for a military ruler whose government has no formal relations with the Jewish state.
Although we do not have formal relations, I would like
to convey my best wishes on your election as president of Pakistan for a second term, Peres wrote.
You have shown responsibility and strength in preventing the spread of violence and terrorism on many occasions and I carry in my heart your support for peace in the Middle East which I heard directly from you, he said.
Pakistan _ a Muslim country and key ally in the U.S.-led war against terrorism _ has no diplomatic ties with Israel, and the letter did not say when the two men had spoken.
Musharraf was overwhelmingly re-elected in Sunday's election. But much of the opposition boycotted the vote, and the country's Supreme Court must decide whether to confirm the result or disqualify Musharraf due to his retention of his powerful role as army chief.
Despite the legal battle and lack of formal ties with Pakistan, Peres thought it would be appropriate to send a congratulatory letter to Musharraf, said Peres' spokeswoman, Ayelet Frisch. She described Musharraf as a good friend of the president. Believe me, (the president) knows what he is doing, she said.
In April, Musharraf made a surprise offer to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an interview with the pan-Arab satellite television station Al-Arabiya. He told the Dubai-based station he would be willing to visit the Jewish state in order to help bring peace to the troubled Middle East.
Pakistan has not yet been involved in any negotiations concerning the Arab region, but hosted talks in late February in Islamabad, attended by Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, on issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the war in Iraq and the standoff with Iran.
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli President Shimon Peres sent a letter congratulating Gen. Pervez Musharraf on his victory in Pakistan's presidential election, Peres' office said Monday, offering a surprising gesture of support for a military ruler whose government has no formal relations with the Jewish state.
Although we do not have formal relations, I would like
to convey my best wishes on your election as president of Pakistan for a second term, Peres wrote.
You have shown responsibility and strength in preventing the spread of violence and terrorism on many occasions and I carry in my heart your support for peace in the Middle East which I heard directly from you, he said.
Pakistan _ a Muslim country and key ally in the U.S.-led war against terrorism _ has no diplomatic ties with Israel, and the letter did not say when the two men had spoken.
Musharraf was overwhelmingly re-elected in Sunday's election. But much of the opposition boycotted the vote, and the country's Supreme Court must decide whether to confirm the result or disqualify Musharraf due to his retention of his powerful role as army chief.
Despite the legal battle and lack of formal ties with Pakistan, Peres thought it would be appropriate to send a congratulatory letter to Musharraf, said Peres' spokeswoman, Ayelet Frisch. She described Musharraf as a good friend of the president. Believe me, (the president) knows what he is doing, she said.
In April, Musharraf made a surprise offer to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an interview with the pan-Arab satellite television station Al-Arabiya. He told the Dubai-based station he would be willing to visit the Jewish state in order to help bring peace to the troubled Middle East.
Pakistan has not yet been involved in any negotiations concerning the Arab region, but hosted talks in late February in Islamabad, attended by Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, on issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the war in Iraq and the standoff with Iran.
