The Prime Minister of Israel told the Jerusalem correspondent of the London Times:

“PEACE IS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST OF OUR POLITICAL AIMS.  PEACE AND COOPERATION WITH THE ARABS – ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COOPERATION – MUST ALWAYS BE OUR MAJOR OBJECTIVE.  WE MUST SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL BRING IT NEARER AND TRY IN EVERY WAY TO AVOID ACTION THAT MAY PUSH IT FURTHER AWAY.  BUT I HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT PEACE WITH THE ARABS.  IT IS NOT JUST AROUND THE CORNER.  I DOUBT IF WE WILL GET IT UNTIL THERE ARE THOROUGHLY STABLE GOVERNMENTS IN THE ARAB STATES INSTEAD OF CLIQUES.  OUR HIGHEST POLITICAL OBJECTIVE REMAINS, HOWEVER, AN ISRAEL-ARAB ALLIANCE …”