IZMIR - Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Pinhas Avivi said on Friday that a new era would begin in the Middle East, and expressed his hope that it would be the era of peace.
Avivi paid a visit of courtesy to Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu of western city of Izmir.
Replying to questions of journalists during the meeting about Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's condition, Avivi said that they had not received any detailed information so far.
''The important thing is not the demise of Arafat, but beginning of a new era. I hope it will be the era of peace in the Middle East. Peace is the most significant thing,'' he said.
Avivi told reporters that although Arafat was his political enemy, he personally did not want demise of the Palestinian leader.
-''ARAFAT SHOULD HAVE RETIRED''-
''Mr. Arafat should have retired and spent more time with his family, long time ago. I believe that if he had withdrawn from active politics, a peace agreement would have been signed in the region,'' he said.
When asked whether intifada of Palestinian people would continue if Arafat died, Avivi said, ''according to my point of view, the intifada has been a series of mistakes from the very beginning. It claimed lives of thousands of people. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians gained anything from the war.''
Palestinian leader Arafat has been in France since October 29th for medical treatment. His condition has largely remained a mystery since then. French physicians have yet to announce a diagnosis, but confirmed yesterday that he had been rushed to intensive care after his condition became more complex.
(UK-ULG)