Peres rejects Hamas talks

Mr Peres also said that he does not favour a military strike against Iran. “But we have to set up quickly and resolutely an international a strong and aggressive international coalition of the world’s nations that will put heavy economical sanctions on Iran. Iran’s efforts to gain nuclear arms should worry the entire world.”

Mr Peres began his address to the 120 reporters representing major media organisations with his own summary of the state’s history. He expressed wonder that despite agreeing to the UN partition plan, and being attacked by seven Arab armies, “the three major powers, the United States, Britain and France, refused to sell us rifles”.

When asked what he believed to be his major achievements, he listed forging the alliance with France in the 1950s and 1960s, which allowed Israel to build its armed forces and military industry.

Asked whether he thought all the Jews of the world should live in Israel, he said: “We can’t make anyone live in Israel, but if someone wants to live to the full Jewish sense and heritage, that is only possible in Israel.”