We discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza which has come about because of the Israeli siege.

I'd hoped we'd go to the summit having lifted the siege, having stopped the hostilities, having had the international inquiry so we can concentrate on what kind of transition we need between this period and back to the peace process,

The basic ingredient for all the ails that we are witnessing there is the continuation of the Israeli occupation, and this must end, ... President Arafat is determined to exert every possible effort in order to ensure ... the Israeli occupation is finished and peace is made once and all.

And, once again, we reiterate, we don't condone the killings of Israeli civilians -- or Palestinian civilians for that matter.

It's a good sign to hear Mr. Peres speaking. I think he is the first Israeli official to apologize for this, and I hope that many Israeli officials will condemn this crime, which will not be justified.

Half the published articles on Gaza contain a standard reference to its resemblance to a vast open-air prison (and when I last saw it under Israeli occupation it certainly did deserve this metaphor). The problem is that, given its ideology and its allies, Hamas qualifies rather too well in the capacity of guard and warder.