English/Nat

After two days of mourning, foreign minister Shimon Peres has taken up his duties as acting prime minister of Israel.

Peres left for work this morning at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem surrounded by bodyguards.

It was Shimon Peres' first day at work as Acting Prime Minister Tuesday.

Security has been stepped up around the former Foreign Minister after a number of death threats.

Such threats are being taken extremely seriously by a twitchy Security Service after a 25-year-old law student, Yigal Amir, broke through security ranks to shoot Yitzhak Rabin.

Rabin was the first head of state to be assassinated in Israel and to many his killing has marked the beginning of a new era.

Throughout the morning, Peres was visited by international heads-of-state who not only offered their condolences but messages of hope and support for the future.

Fear is mounting over the effect the recent assassination will have over the already shaky peace process.

Britain's Prime Minister John Major spent some time with Peres.

Afterwards, Peres told the press his top concern remained the peace process -- and elections came second.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"For us the main consideration is the peace process and not the term of the government. I said yesterday and I will repeat it again - for us to win peace is more important even than to win the elections."

QUESTION : "So you won't go to elections now?"

ANSWER: "I shall continue with the process of peace as we have started and we shall go on."

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres acting prime minister.

Australia's President Paul Keating spent several minutes with Peres.

And Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan met the Israeli President.

The presence of so many Arab leaders has given rise to hopes that the peace Rabin was so instrumental in negotiating may have changed politics in the region for good.

But although Peres went back to work, mourning is far from over for the rest of the nation.

At the site of the assassination - Tel Aviv's Kikar Malkei square- thousands of mourning candles burnt brightly in the early morning sun.

Scores of Israeli's continue to stop and pay their respects to their fallen leader.

Some write notes - others leave flowers and wreaths. Some simply cry.

VOXPOP: (English)

"I still can't believe what has happened and that we can get back to the same everyday life. Rabin is dead and I still can't believe what is going on here and what is going to happen afterwards"

SUPERCAPTION : Naomi, student from Jerusalem

Israel had closed the Gaza strip and West Bank after the assassination fearing attacks by Islamic militants.

But some people Tuesday were being allowed through the strict security controls. Men over 35 had to show passes.

In a country which has lived with violence since its birth, Rabin's killing has merely added to the sense of insecurity.

Jerusalem, Israel. 7 November 1995

1. Bodyguard

2. Various of Peres getting in car and leaving for work

3. Exterior of prime minister's office

4. Cutaway of cameraman

5. Peres and Major exiting

6. SOUNDBITE: Peres

7. Peres with Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating

8. Peres on sofa with Keating

9. Peres talking on phone to Irish Prime Minister John Bruton

11. Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan arrives at President's building

12. Hassan on chair

Tel Aviv 7 November 1995

7. Various of mourners

8. Various of Kikar Malkei square and flowers and wreaths

Jerusalem 7 November 1995

10. VOXPOP: (English)

Erez junction, Gaza strip 7 November 1995

12. Trucks lined up at the junction

13. Palestinians waiting

14. Soldier on guard

15. Israeli soldiers checking I-D documents

16. Cars driving through check point

17. Soldiers with guns

SHOTLIST:

1. Opposition Labour Party leader Shimon Peres' car stops at entrance to Champs Elysees palace

2. Peres shakes hands with French President Jaques Chirac

3. Peres and Chirac walk into palace

4. Various of Peres and Chirac shaking hands for photo opportunity

5. Peres and Chirac walk out of palace

6. Chirac shakes hands with Peres' colleagues

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Labour Party leader

"We had a good talk about what should be done in order to re-open the peace process. I mentioned it (road map). I said that every plan must have two considerations: one is with our other party the Palestinians, and the other is with our own people, because if you give you everything to the Palestinians you will lose the majority of your home. And since we have a plan which is accepted by the Palestinians, by the Israelis, and by the rest of the world, the road map, I wouldn't change it for something that may become controversial. I have nothing against the proposal, but if we have something in hand for the first time that all parties agreed upon, why give it up and why start again negotiations? Because the situation is already loaded and heavy and better to invest more energy move the road map than energy to develop another road map. That would be my position. I have nothing against it, but I think it's wiser to take something that created an agreement than start again to negotiate another agreement which I am not sure we will agree on."

8. Peres and colleagues get into car

STORYLINE:

Israeli opposition Labour Party leader Shimon Peres met with French President Jaques Chirac in Paris on Thursday.

After talks with Chirac Peres, who is 80 years old, told reporters he believed the road map remained the best way forward in revitalising the Middle East peace process.

He said it would be "wiser" to return to the road map than "start again to negotiate another agreement which I am not sure we will agree on."

Shimon Peres is best known abroad as an architect of Israel's Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians, for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

Natural Sound

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres is in Jordan - on his first state visit since succeeding from the assassinated Yitzhak Rabin.

He met Jordan's King Hussein to discuss ways of normalising relations between the two countries as the Middle East peace process gathers pace.

Shimon Peres arrives at Amman's Raghdan Royal Palace for talks which the Israeli embassy says are of particular significance.

He was welcomed by King Hussein and the two leaders quickly got down to the serious business of talks about "a wide range of regional issues".

A Jordanian official, who refused to be named said the two leaders were reviewing the course of the Middle East peace process.

Peres will hold similar talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Thursday.

Later in the week he heads for Washington for a meeting with President Clinton.

December 6th, Amman, Jordan

1. Shimon Peres arriving to meet King Hussein of Jordan

2. The two men shake hands and walk towards palace

3. Cutaway of guards

4. Close up of Peres and Hussein talking together

5. Two men walking up steps

SHOTLIST:

1. Medium shot of official vehicles arriving, Israeli Foreign Secretary Shimon Peres being greeted by French President Jacques Chirac

2. Medium shot Chirac and Peres shaking hands

3. Interior wide shot of Jacques Chirac and Shimon Peres

4. Close up pan from Peres to Chirac

5. Medium shot of Chirac and Peres walking out of Elysee

6. Mid shot guards

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister:

"We are ready to accept the road map of the Quartet (EU, UN, US, and Russia) how to move ahead in order to negotiate with the Palestinians. The road map of the Quartet is rather well known, it is to achieve a cease fire by organising the security (forces) of the Palestinians."

8. Cutaway cameraman

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister:

"Israel doesn't want any war (with Iraq). We don't want to give the impression that this is an extension of the conflict between the Palestinians and ourselves. It is a separate issue and we want to keep it separate. In other words, we want to continue the negotiations with the Palestinians regardless of what might happen in Iraq."

10. Cutaway guards

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister:

"Israel's position is very clear. If we are attacked we shall defend ourselves, but we didn't specify the way we are going to defend ourselves. I think speculation can create tension. We don't want to speculate."

12. Cutaway reporters

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister:

"It was basically against Hamas because we have agreed with the Palestinians that they will take charge of Gaza. The ones who don't permit the Palestinians to do so is the Hamas and Jihad. And I think the Palestinians themselves are beginning to understand this."

14. Medium shot of Peres getting into his car.

15. Wide shot of car leaving the Elysee.

STORYLINE:

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met with French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday in Paris to discuss the possibility of military action against Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Peres said that Israel was not trying to push the United States to strike Iraq but staunchly supports efforts to keep nuclear, biological and chemical weapons out of the hands of dictators.

Following a 30-minute meeting with the French President, Peres told reporters that his government didn't want the Iraqi issue to be seen as an extension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President George W. Bush has said the United States would be prepared to strike Iraq and oust Saddam if he refuses to let UN weapons inspectors return to search freely for weapons of mass destruction.

Many Israelis fear Saddam would fire Scud missiles at Israel, as in the Gulf War, when Israel was targeted with 39 Scuds that caused damage and injuries, but no deaths. Peres said on Wednesday that if Israel is attacked it will defend itself.

Peres also told reporters that Israel was ready to accept a path to peace supported by the so-called Quartet of mediators for resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.

The Quartet, consisting of senior officials from the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, has expressed support for a general plan to Palestinian statehood within three years.

The plan has three phases: Palestinian reform and elections, followed by the establishment of a provisional Palestinian state in some of the West Bank and Gaza in 2003, and a final peace agreement by 2005.

SHOTLIST

1. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres talking

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister:

"I think (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad thinks that he can run the world and declare it publicly. He can run the world, but unfortunately he cannot run Iran. Iran remains a poor country with unemployment, with 150-thousand to 200-thousand youngsters leaving the country every year. There is poverty everywhere, there is the repression of women which is not accepted in our time. He is the centre of terror in our age and he comes here (to the UN) and he talks like a cavalier of great promises. It is an absurd. One should tell the president of Iran, (inaudible) show us that you can run a country without starvation, without unemployment, without discrimination, without hate and then you'll run the rest of the world."

3. Abbas and Peres walking

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saeb Erakat, Palestinian chief negotiator:

"So make no mistake, the Arab League is not here to introduce any new initiatives, or to introduce a new scoring points sessions, as a matter of fact we have unanimously agreed the kingdom of Bahrain, who is presiding over the Arab League this session, will deliver the speech on our behalf, they will reiterate the Arab Peace Initiative of Beirut 2002 and they will call upon the Secretary General of the United Nations to consult with the parties in order to find the best ways to revive the bilateral negotiations between the parties."

5. Abbas and Peres talking

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister:

"The Arab League must show that they represent the Arab parties and forces. If the Arab League can put Hezbollah under order and Hamas under order this will mean that they are really representing the whole situation in the arab world, but unfortunately Hezbollah refuses to disarm, which they should according to the Security Council resolution and according to the wish of the Lebanese government. I think many Palestinians would like Hamas to stop shooting rockets against Israel. If the Arab League cannot control them, so how can they really manage a peace process?"

7. Peres leaving

STORYLINE:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Israel's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres in New York on Thursday in an effort to revive the stalled peace process.

The two men discussed the possibilities for renewing the peace talks between the two countries, with a Palestinian spokesman expressing hope that there could be a return to talks, but emphasising that the Arab League would not be bringing anything new to the table:

"So make no mistake, the Arab League is not here to introduce any new initiatives, or to introduce a new scoring points sessions, as a matter of fact we have unanimously agreed the kingdom of Bahrain, who is presiding over the Arab League this session, will deliver the speech on our behalf, they will reiterate the Arab Peace Initiative of Beirut 2002 and they will call upon the Secretary General of the United Nations to consult with the parties in order to find the best ways to revive the bilateral negotiations between the parties," said Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, on behalf of Abbas.

Peres stated that his government was willing to sit down with the Arab League, but that the group had to first assure that it was speaking for all the parties concerned:

"The Arab League must show that they represent the Arab parties and forces. If the Arab League can put Hezbollah under order and Hamas under order this will mean that they are really representing the whole situation in the Arab world," he said.

Earlier in the day Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had addressed a news conference making remarks to which Peres offered a critical assessment:

"He (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the centre of terror in our age and he comes here (to the UN) and he talks like a cavalier of great promises. It is an absurd. One should tell the president of Iran, show us that you can run a country without starvation, without unemployment, without discrimination, without hate and then you'll and run the rest of the world," the Israeli deputy prime minister said.

SHOTLIST:

1. US Vice President Joe Biden arriving at residence of Israel president Shimon Peres, Biden greeted by Peres

2. Cutaway of US and Israeli flags

3. Zoom in Biden and Peres shaking hands

4. Biden signing guests book as Peres standing near him

5. Biden signing guest book

6. Biden and Peres shaking hands, sitting down

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Joe Biden, US Vice President:

"I think we are at a moment of real opportunity and I think that the interests both of the Palestinians and the Israeli people are, if everyone steps back and takes a deep breath, are actually very much more in line than they are in opposition."

8. Cutaway of Biden and Peres talking

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israel president:

"You are coming on a mission of peace and we understand that there are two sides to the mission and I don''t see, I don''t think that there is any contradiction in between being friendly and understanding to the two sides."

10. Peres and Biden in meeting

11. Biden and Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu coming out of building, Biden sitting down, signing book

12. Cutaway of cameraman

13. Biden and Netanyahu shaking hands, leaving

STORYLINE

US Vice President Joe Biden opened his first day of talks in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning, meeting Israeli president Shimon Peres and prime minister Benjamin Netanyhau.

At the meeting with Peres, Biden said there was a "moment of real opportunity" for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, after agreeing to resume American-brokered talks.

"If everyone steps back and takes a deep breath, are actually very much more in line than they are in opposition," he added.

Peres replied he didn''t think there was "any contradiction in between being friendly and understanding to the two sides."

Monday''s announcement of indirect talks, which will be held through a US mediator, broke a 14-month deadlock and marked President Barack Obama''s first substantive diplomatic achievement in the region.

But the new peace push is sure to face enormous challenges, including sharp divisions among the Palestinians and a hardline Israeli government seen as unlikely to make wide-ranging concessions.

Biden is making the highest-level visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by an Obama administration official.

The US vice president is also slated to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before continuing to Jordan on Thursday.

English/Nat

As Israel's new Prime Minister Shimon Peres held his first cabinet meeting on Sunday, police were interrogating at least two Rabbis suspected of being connected with Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

Police are probing whether one or several right-wing Rabbis issued a "din rodef" - a ruling under Jewish law which allows someone to be killed to prevent them causing the deaths of other victims.

Three weeks after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the new Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres held his first cabinet meeting.

Ministers old and new - including the new Foreign Minister Ehud Barak - gathered at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem to receive political and military briefings.

Also attending the meeting was the Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Amnon Lipkin-Shachak.

SOUNDBITE:

Q: Any announcement on Syria.

A: "He (Peres) was asked about it and he said nothing new for the time being. When there will be any news he will report to the government and of course any decision that will have to be made."

Q: Any contact with Syria made at European Union meeting in Barcelona?

A: "Such a thing was not mentioned"

SUPERCAPTION: Shimon Peres' cabinet secretary Shmuel Hollander

Police are interrogating at least two Rabbis suspected of issuing a Jewish religious ruling justifying the killing of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Confessed assassin Yigal Amir reportedly believed Rabin deserved to die because his policy of giving land to the Palestinians led to terrorist attacks against Israelis.

One of the rabbis, identifying himself as Rabbi Shmeul Dvir from the West Bank settlement Karmei Tsur, arrived at the police serious crimes unit headquarters after being summoned by police.

Another rabbi did not identify himself to reporters, but said he knew Amir three years ago.

A girl Margalit Har-Shefi, arrested 10 days ago for suspected involvement in the assassination, was brought to the crimes unit headquarters for further questioning.

The potency of the Israeli right-wing was evident again on Sunday when around 15 thousand ultra-orthodox Jews gathered in the centre of Jerusalem to protest the ongoing archeological excavations at the site of Maccabim, in the West Bank.

Archaeologists uncovered what appears to be a synagogue from the Hashmonite era and other remains of a Jewish village dating back 2,000 years.

Orthodox Jews oppose the digs because they might unearth early Jewish graves, desecrating the holiness of the dead.

November 26th, 1995, Jerusalem

1. Exterior of Cabinet building

2. Shot of Shimon Peres walking in

3. Close-up Peres during cabinet meeting

4. Ministers sitting around table

5. Chief of Staff and Chief of Police at Cabinet

6. Wide shot of table

7. SOUNDBITE: Cabinet Secretary Hollander

8. Rabbi being chased by camera crews into police station

9. Photographers wait outside police station for girl

10. Girl gets into car

11. Aerial view of thousands of Orthodox Jews in street

SHOTLIST:

AP TELEVISION

Jerusalem

1. Israeli President Shimon Peres walking into room at presidential residence, shaking hands with delegates and US Middle East envoy George Mitchell

2. Cutaway of flags

3. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:

"I received so many greetings and words of encouragement. Thank you. I have no other way but to reciprocate on this occasion and I thank everyone for their interest, their encouragement and their thanks."

4. Wide of Peres and Mitchell

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Mitchell, US Middle East envoy:

"While we have not yet reached agreement on many outstanding issues, we are working hard to do so, and indeed the purpose of my visit here this week is to attempt to do so."

6. Cameraman

7. Wide of meeting

AP TELEVISION

Jerusalem

8. Wide exterior of Israeli Foreign Ministry

9. Close-up of lettering on building reading: (English) State of Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and officials waiting

11. Cutaway of Israeli and American flags

12. Mitchell arriving at Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lieberman meets Mitchell and shakes his hand

13. Lieberman and Mitchell shaking hands in front of Israeli and American flags

14. Officials enter building

AGENCY POOL

Tel Aviv, Israel

15. Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Mitchell walking into room talking

16. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ehud Barak, Israel Defence Minister:

(STARTS AS MID SHOT OF MITCHELL)

"The meeting with Senator Mitchell is part of our efforts to continue proceeding in launching regional negotiations according to President Obama's initiative and in its centre, negotiations with the Palestinians."

17. Barak and Mitchell walking away

STORYLINE:

US envoy George Mitchell met Israeli President Shimon Peres and, separately, with senior Israeli Cabinet ministers on Sunday as he continued efforts to renew stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mitchell met first with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem.

Later he met with Peres, just a day after the president had fainted on stage during a talk.

The 86-year-old Nobel laureate passed out briefly on Saturday, then revived on his own a few seconds later.

He initially resisted hospitalisation, but later relented and was admitted to a hospital for observation and tests.

The Israeli president is not known to suffer from any health problems, aside from high blood pressure that is treated with medication.

Peres' medical history is open to the public and he travels with a paramedic.

Mitchell was in the region trying to renew stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Peace talks broke down in December after Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza to stop militants firing rockets on southern Israeli towns.

Before the scheduled meeting with Peres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said differences remained with the US over resuming peacemaking with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu delivered the assessment before flying to Cairo for talks with Egypt's president, a main mediator in efforts to restart peace talks.

Later, Ehud Barak, the Israel Defence Minister, said the meeting "with Senator Mitchell is part of our efforts to continue proceeding in launching regional negotiations according to President Obama's initiative."

The Obama administration, with Mitchell as the point man, has been pressing Israel to declare a halt to construction in its West Bank settlements. Palestinians claim the West Bank as part of their future state.

Netanyahu, whose Likud Party is ideologically committed to expanding settlements and holding on to the West Bank, has been bargaining for a compromise that would allow some building to continue.

Palestinians insist they will not resume peace talks until Israel completely stops its West Bank construction. Palestinians charge that settlements are a major obstacle to creating their own state.

SHOTLIST:

AP TELEVISION

Jerusalem - 23 May 2013

1. Zoom into US Secretary of State John Kerry shaking hands with Israeli President Shimon Peres, before both take their seats

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:

"If you will succeed, it will be our success. If you will miss, we shall miss. We shall stand on your side all the way. You have a mission of peace, which concerns all of us. Israelis, Palestinians, old and young, mothers and children."

3. Mid of Kerry and Peres

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kerry, US Secretary of State:

"It is really is a question of whether Israel and the Palestinians make the choices. And the United States of America, through President Barack Obama, is completely at the disposal of both parties to try to help to bridge the divide."

5. Zoom out as Kerry and Peres leave at end of meeting

AGENCY POOL

Ramallah, West Bank - 23 May 2013

6. Zoom into British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sat talking

7. Close of Abbas

8. Mid of Hague's delegates

9. Wide of meeting room

AP TELEVISION

Ramallah, West Bank - 23 May 2013

10. Wide of Hague coming out of room and walking to podium

11. SOUNDBITE (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary:

"We've discussed with the president the negotiating position. Of course, we want to see negotiations take place and progress made towards this goal. What is clear is that things cannot just stand still. This is becoming a much more urgent issue as the weeks and the months go by. The two-state solution cannot be, the prospect of it, cannot be kept alive for ever."

12. Close of cameraman

13. SOUNDBITE (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary: ++Zoom out as Hague departs at the end of this shot++

"We will all do our utmost to work with the United States, to work with Palestinians and Israelis, to bring about a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, and I look forward to further discussions with the president and his team over the coming months, and over the coming weeks, and we hope such negotiations will soon be able to begin. Thank you very much indeed."

14. Wide of Hague leaving

STORYLINE:

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.

Kerry's talks are the latest in a series of meetings with Israelis and Palestinians over the past two months aimed at getting them back to the negotiating table.

Peres suggest the onus was on the United States.

"If you will succeed, it will be our success. If you will miss, we shall miss. We shall stand on your side all the way. You have a mission of peace, which concerns all of us."

However, Kerry responded by insisting that both the Israelis and Palestinians must take ownership of the crisis if they are to reach a resolution..

"It is really is a question of whether Israel and the Palestinians make the choices. And the United States of America, through President Barack Obama, is completely at the disposal of both parties to try to help to bridge the divide," said Kerry.

Kerry also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

The Palestinians say they refuse to restart negotiations until Israel ceases building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel has rejected the demand, saying it wants to begin talks without preconditions.

Palestinians believe the US effort to restart peace talks is doomed, and they're preparing instead to resume their campaign of seeking membership in key international organisations as soon as next month, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Palestinians are planning to resume their campaign of seeking membership in key international organisations as early as next month in a bid to put pressure on Israel into offering some concessions.

While Palestinians praised Kerry's efforts, they said there has been little progress ahead of what they believe to be a 7 June deadline for action.

They are already beginning work on a "day-after" strategy.

Earlier, British Foreign Secretary of William Hague held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"What is clear is that things cannot just stand still. This is becoming a much more urgent issue as the weeks and the months go by. The two-state solution cannot be the prospect of it, cannot be kept alive for ever" said Hague in a statement shortly after his meeting with Abbas.

SHOTLIST

AP TELEVISION

1. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and Israel's military chief of staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz walking to eternal flame in Yad Vashem museum

2. Close of official US wreath

3. Dempsey standing by Gantz and Yad Vashem official during ceremony

4. Close-up of eternal flame

5. Dempsey turning the eternal flame up

6. Cutaway of signs on floor

7. Dempsey laying wreath

8. Exterior of Yad Vashem museum

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"I probably underestimated how moving it would be and it turns out that today is the 70th anniversary of the infamous Wannsee Conference that started all of this human tragedy. And so among my remarks and the written word here is that we will all remain committed together to never letting anything like this happen again. God bless you all." (Dempsey shakes hands with officials and walks away)

AGENCY POOL

10. Gantz and Dempsey walking into Israeli President Shimon Peres' residence

11. Close-up of Dempsey talking to official

12. Peres walking to Dempsey, the two shaking hands

13. Wide of Dempsey, Peres and Gantz posing for group photo

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:

"I think the two camps today is really the camp of peace and the camp of dangerous ambitions to rule other people. And we are on the same front."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"And your characterisation of the common challenge we face and the common, the trust, the sacred trust we have, to protect those values of freedom, I couldn't agree with you more and I assure you that America is your partner and we are honoured to have you as a partner in that regard."

16. Wide of meeting

STORYLINE

The US military's top general visited Israel on Friday and held an intense string of closed talks with Israeli leaders, amid apparent disagreements between the two countries over how to respond to Iran's nuclear programme.

In between the meetings, General Martin E. Dempsey together with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial and museum.

He wrote in its guest book, "We are committed to ensuring that such a human tragedy (as the Holocaust) never happens again."

Dempsey held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak and then called on Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Peres spoke about the common threat shared by Israel and the United States.

"I think the two camps today is the camp of peace and the camp of dangerous ambitions to rule other people. And we are on the same front," Peres said.

"I couldn't agree with you more and I assure you that America is your partner and we are honoured to have you as a partner in that regard," responded Dempsey.

The arrival of Dempsey just four months after he took office as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscores Washington's concern about a possible Israeli military strike.

Israel believes Iran is close to completing the technology to produce an atomic weapon.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Israel has said it prefers employing international diplomacy to solve the problem, but that it has not taken the option of a military strike off the table.

But the United States is clearly concerned that a military attack could backfire, fragmenting international opposition to Iran and sending oil prices skyrocketing.

Israeli officials involved in the preparations for the meetings said they expected Dempsey to urge restraint as the US tries to rally additional global pressure on Iran.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the visit.

In a joint statement, the US and Israel said the visit would focus on "cooperation between the two militaries, as well as mutual security challenges."

British Prime Minister David Cameron re-affirmed ties with Israel on Wednesday, during a two-day visit to the country.

Cameron first paid his respects at the Yad Vashe holocaust museum in Jerusalem before meeting with politicians.

Speaking about the latest round of rocket attacks from Gaza, Cameron told Israeli President Shimon Peres that Israel had Britain's "support in facing security threats".

Dozens of rockets were fired into southern Israel early Wednesday sending civilians rushing to bomb shelters.

Later at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cameron praised Netanyahu, Palestinian President Abbas and US Secretary Kerry for their role in pushing for peace in the region.

But Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of armed intervention if the rocket attacks out of Gaza don't stop.

"If there will not be quiet in the south (of Israel) there will be noise in Gaza...The Israeli army will do the job," he said.

The Israeli military says Wednesday's rocket barrage is the largest since 2012, when it launched an eight-day air campaign in Gaza to stop the attacks.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of British Prime Minister David Cameron standing in the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad VaShem Holocaust museum

2. Cameron laying wreath in memory of holocaust victims

3. Close-up of wreath: (English) 'Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron.'

AGENCY POOL

1. David Cameron, British Prime Minister, shaking hands with Shimon Peres, Israeli President

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli president:

"They say this was the most severe attack in a long time, and I am sure that the government will take the necessary steps to stop it. Hamas must understand that they cannot have both ways either you run a normal life or you make it the centre of terror. We shall not accept it as a centre of terror."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cameron, British Prime Minister:

"Let me be absolutely clear about these attacks from Gaza, we condemn them completely. I think there are three important points to bear in mind; first of all they are a reminder once again of the importance of maintaining and securing Israel's future and the security threats that you face. And you have Britain's support in facing those security threats."

4. Peres and Cameron sitting at meeting

AGENCY POOL

1. British Prime Minister David Cameron and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister walking into news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister:

"If there will not be quiet in the south (of Israel) there will be noise in Gaza, and that is an understatement. I call all the residents of the south to follow the regulations.The Israeli army will do the job."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cameron, British Prime Minister:

"In Bibi and President Abbas you have two leaders who have shown courage and determination to secure peace. In Secretary Kerry you have someone who has given this process his all and finally in Britain you have a friend who believes in Israel, someone who wants the Jewish people to be free and safe in their homeland."

5. Cameron and Netanyahu standing at podium

SHOTLIST:

AGENCY POOL

1. Zoom in to Israeli President Shimon Peres greeting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos

2. Peres and Santos listening to national anthems

3. Peres and Santos walking past honour guard

4. Wide of Santos greeting dignitaries

5. Wide of Peres and Santos shaking hands then taking their positions for photographs

6. Zoom in to Peres and Santos seated

7. Peres and Santos raising their glasses for toast

AP TELEVISION

8. Wide of Santos standing in the Hall of the Eternal Flame in Yad Vashem, Holocaust memorial

9. Mid of Santos and his wife standing in the Hall of the Eternal Flame

10. Wide of Santos laying wreath

11. Mid of Santos

12. Close of wreath reading (English) "President of Colombia"

13. Mid of rabbi singing prayer

14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Manuel Santos, Colombian President:

"We have come from Colombia to remember and to honour the millions of victims of the terrible Holocaust, that the world will never, ever allow something like this to happen again."

15. Santos shaking hands with Yad Vashem officials

STORYLINE:

Israeli President Shimon Peres met with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos in Jerusalem on Monday.

Santos is visiting Israel with a delegation of senior business leaders and government ministers to seek investment opportunities and increased co-operation between the two countries.

Later on Monday, he visited Yad Vashem - the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem which is a memorial to the six (m) million Jewish victims of the Nazi genocide.

"We have come from Colombia to remember and to honour the millions of victims of the terrible Holocaust, that the world will never, ever allow something like this to happen again," the Colombian president said after his visit.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various of Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and French President Jacques Chirac during talks

2. Media cutaway

3. Peres and Chirac arriving at news conference

4. Wide news conference

5. SOUNDBITE: (French) Jacques Chirac, French President

"Everyone can envision the possible symbolic impact, in the current context of incomprehension and violence, of a direct, unconditional meeting between the legitimate representatives of the Israeli and the Palestinian people, the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Arafat. Only through the courage of a dignified, honorable dialogue, could

they respond to their peoples' legitimate aspiration to live in peace, an aspiration to which every people is entitled."

6. Cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE: (French) Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister

"We do not believe that there could be a military solution, but only a political solution. I told the president that personally I do not search peace but rather a majority for peace, because both peace and a majority for it are political things. Despite the current situation, which is extremely complicated, we must not forget that there is also a

good chance to attain a dialogue between the Palestinians and us. I think also that the Saudi Arabian proposition is the most possible development."

8. Cutaway

9. SOUNDBITE: (French) Jacques Chirac, French President

"I must clearly insist that there is no anti-Semitic drive in France, that no elements exist to support such an

accusation, and that France, as well as its officials, will remain extremely vigilant on this issue and ready to act in the most severe fashion against any manifestation in such direction."

10. Peres and Chirac leaving Elysee Palace after talks

11. Peres and Chirac shake hands

12. Peres gets into car and is driven away

STORYLINE:

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has welcomed Saudi Arabia's contribution to the search for a viable peace settlement in the Middle East.

But he said Israel would not accept a proposal for a return to its pre-1967 borders.

Peres was referring to a plan put forward by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah, whereby Arab states normalise relations with Israel in return for a full Israeli withdrawal from lands occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.

Speaking after meetings with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris on Tuesday, Peres warned that the situation was extremely complex but that there was a good chance of the resumption of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.

Chirac stressed the symbolic importance of direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

He described the Saudi proposal as "a courageous one", but said peace talks should be based on a plan discussed by Peres and Palestinian parliamentary speaker Ahmed Korei last December.

This proposal included plans for a Palestinian mini-state and an end to settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza.

Chirac also rejected suggestions that anti-Semitism was on the rise in France.

France has been increasingly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's policies.

Sharon is reported to have talked last week of a "dangerous wave of anti-Semitism" in France.

SHOTLIST:

1. Exterior of Israeli President's residence, German and Israeli flags

2. Interior, wide of German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and officials, Israeli President Shimon Peres enters, they greet each other, zoom in

3. Cameraman

4. Peres and Steinmeier shaking hands, pull out as they both sit

5. SOUNDBITE: (German) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister:

"The war is over but peace is not yet reached."

6. Cutaway to man sitting in meeting

7. SOUNDBITE: (German) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister:

"You know better than anybody else in this room that the way to stability is gained through negotiation with the Palestinian side, and I think the solution should be focused on the two-state solution."

8. Steinmeier and Peres, pull out to wide of meeting, zoom to officials

STORYLINE

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was in Jerusalem on Monday where he held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres, at the beginning of a Middle East visit that includes stops in the Palestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon.

Steinmeier told Peres during their meeting that he believed hopes for a Middle East peace settlement rested on a two-state agreement with the Palestinians.

Later on Monday, Steinmeier was expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

On the Palestinian side, he will meet Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, before continuing on Tuesday to Syria, where he will meet President Bashar Assad.

In Lebanon, he has meetings planned with President Michel Suleiman and the Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri.

T/I: 11:27:24 GS 10:30:30

Prime Minister Shimon Peres credited US Secretary Warren Christopher Wednesday (7/2) with preventing Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations from breaking down because of the impending Israeli election campaign.

Peres spoke after a briefing from Christopher on the US diplomat's latest mission to Syria.

SHOWS:

GAZA/ISRAEL 7/2

BEIT HANUN, GAZA STRIP:

0.00 christopher's car arriving in compound

0.07 christopher walking with aides

0.10 christopher up steps, greeted by arafat amid crowd

0.13 arafat and christopher inside, shaking hands

0.19 ws christopher and arafat meeting at long table

0.24 cu christopher

0.30 ws meeting

0.36 cu arafat

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL 7/2:

0.39 christopher and shimon peres entering news conference,

walking to microphones

0.40 natsot christopher: "the decision taken by the two parties (israel and syria) reflects a commitment on behalf of both of them to the goal of reaching an agreement in 1996."

0.58 ca cameras

1.01 natsot christopher: "the united states will continue to do

everything it can to assist the parties to achieve that goal. under our auspices, the neogotiations will go forward and we are determined to be as helpful as we possibly can be to the parties."

1.20 ca official standing along wall, listening

1.23 ends

SHOTLIST

1. European Union Foreign Policy chief, Javier Solana arriving at presidential residence in Jerusalem

2. Solana shaking hands with Israeli President, Shimon Peres

3. Mid of EU and Israeli flags

4. Meeting between Solana and Peres

5. Mid of Peres

6. Mid of Solana

7. Various of meeting

8. Exterior of Foreign ministry building in Jerusalem, man walking past camera

9. Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair sitting down at meeting

10. Blair at table, pan to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman sitting across from him

11. Close of Lieberman

12. Close of Blair, zoom out to wide of meeting

13. EU motorcade, Lieberman waiting

14. Solana stepping out of car, shaking hands with Lieberman, zoom in on Solana, zoom out

15. Solana and Lieberman shaking hands

16. Wide exterior of Foreign ministry building

STORYLINE

European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana begun a one day tour of Israel and West Bank meeting with the Israeli leadership in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss progress on peace negotiations in the region.

Solana met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Later on Monday he is scheduled to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah.

Meanwhile, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair also held a meeting with Lieberman in an effort to revive peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, are likely to hold their first meeting in the coming weeks in what would be an important step toward a formal resumption of peace talks and a signal achievement for US President Barack Obama.

The indications came as Netanyahu held four hours of talks with Obama's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, in London on Wednesday.

Abbas has said he would not resume peace talks until Israel freezes settlements.

But the Israelis have been strongly hinting that Netanyahu could meet Abbas next month at the United Nations General Assembly.

In the past week, Palestinian officials in the West Bank said for the first time that such a meeting was likely.

The officials said that while Abbas is prepared to talk to Netanyahu, he would not officially reopen negotiations until Israel halts its settlement activities.

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Ramallah, West Bank

1. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle walking into Palestinian prime minister's office

Agency Pool

Ramallah, West Bank

2. Wide of Westerwelle and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad sitting down with aides

3. Pull out from Fayyad to both sitting down

AP Television

Ramallah, West Bank

4. Wide of Westerwelle and Fayyad entering news conference

5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Salam Fayyad, Palestinian Prime Minister:

"The conditions that we have are basically related to the implementation of all the requirements of the road map, and the Israeli side should stop the settlements building in all the areas. And there was an agreement on this issue (the settlements) between us and the German Foreign minister, and the importance of providing all the elements of success."

6. Pull out from Westerwelle to both leaving room

Agency Pool

Jerusalem

7. Westerwelle shaking hands with Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, walking into building

Agency Pool

Jerusalem

8. SOUNDBITE: (German) Guido Westerwelle, German Foreign Minister:

"The government of Israel knows the position of the government of Germany. There is coordination between the two, with the European Union and the United States. Freezing of settlements was agreed upon within the framework of the road map and we think we need to proceed within this framework in order to restart the process."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli foreign minister:

"Never has the subject of Jewish settlement been an obstacle to peace. We always made peace agreements without a connection to the issue of settlements. And the opposite is also correct. We evacuated from the Gaza Strip dozens of blossoming and prosperous settlements. We transferred almost 10,000 Jews from the Gaza Strip and in exchange we got Hamas in power and rockets on Sderot."

10. Westerwelle and Lieberman shaking hands and walking out of news conference

Agency Pool

Jerusalem

11. Wide pan of Israeli presidential residence

12. Wide of Westerwelle shaking hands with Israeli President Shimon Peres, zoom in

13. Cutaway of reporters and Israeli soldier listening

14. Wide of meeting, zoom in to Peres talking

15. Cutaway of cameraman

16. Close-up of Peres, zoom out to wide

17. Close-up of Westerwelle talking

18. Wide of meeting

STORYLINE:

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle continued his tour of the Middle East on Tuesday, arriving in the West Bank for a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

At a news conference in Ramallah, Fayyad reiterated his call for the Israelis to "stop the settlements building."

On Monday night Israel TV reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed a 10-month freeze in construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

The TV report said the freeze would not apply to Jewish neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem. Palestinians claim that part of the city as their capital.

Israeli and Palestinian officials were not available for comment late on Monday. The report quoted unnamed Israeli officials.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded a total freeze in settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem before peace talks resume. The US is also calling for a freeze.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem after capturing it in the 1967 war. The fate of the city is one of the toughest issues in the conflict.

Later on Tuesday, Westerwelle met his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem, where they held a joint news conference.

Westerwelle said the German government supported calls for a halt to settlement building, in order for the peace process to continue.

"Freezing of settlements was agreed upon within the framework of the road map and we think we need to proceed within this framework in order to restart the process," he said.

But Lieberman argued that the settlement issue had never "been an obstacle to peace."

"We always made peace agreements without a connection to the issue of settlements," he said.

He also said Israel had already made concessions by evacuating Jewish residents from "blossoming and prosperous settlements," in the Gaza Strip.

Westerwelle later met Israeli President Shimon Peres at his residence in Jerusalem.

The visit also comes amid reports of a possible prisoner swap deal brokered by a German envoy, between Israel and Hamas.

Palestinians said on Monday that negotiators were close to exchanging an Israeli soldier held by Gaza militants for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Officials on both sides cautioned against exaggerated optimism that a deal is about to be concluded. Even so, conditions for a deal appear to be ripening on both sides.

Israel and Hamas have been locked in on-off talks since Gaza militants tunnelled into Israel and captured Sergeant Gilad Schalit in a 2006 raid that killed two other soldiers.

Until recently, the Egyptian-mediated talks had made little progress.

Netanyahu is eager for a breakthrough and bringing Schalit home would give him a huge domestic boost and provide an important diplomatic victory at a time when much of the international community is criticising him for not doing enough to promote peace.

SHOTLIST:

1. Exterior of building

2. Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres shaking hands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

3. Security guards inside King David hotel

4. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon shaking hands with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu

5. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni arriving at news conference

6. Cutaway to journalists

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General:

'' I fully understand Israel's legitimate security concerns, having gone through some parts of Israel by helicopter today I came to better appreciate the security concerns facing Israel.''

8. Cutaway to television camera

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tzipi Livni, Israeli foreign minister:

''The Arab league decision from 2002 reflects the Arab position on the Israeli Palestinian conflict and in a way on the Arab-Israeli conflict. There are some positive elements in it, I mean the need to reconciliate, the need to normalise the relations between the Arab world and Israel are of a positive nature. There are certain elements that were added, unfortunately after the Saudi initiative was published, and this refers to the refugee issue.''

10. Wide of news conference

11. Cutaway of television camera

11. Livni leaving news conference

STORYLINE:

The new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon toured Israel from the air on Monday, winding up his first visit to the region since taking office.

During a news conference with Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, Ban said he fully understands Israel's security concerns.

''Having gone through some parts of Israel by helicopter today I came to better appreciate the security concerns facing Israel,'' he said.

The Israeli military took Ban on a helicopter tour around Israel and the West Bank, an Israeli effort to give him a feel for the close quarters and security challenges.

Livni said that the Arab peace initiative from 2002 has positive elements but indicated some dissatisfaction with other elements in it.

''There are certain elements that were added, unfortunately after the Saudi initiative was published, and this refers to the refugee issue,'' Livni said.

The Saudis are expected to re-launch the 2002 proposal calling for a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and the Arab world at a summit in Saudi Arabia this week.

Israel rejected the plan when it was first launched, objecting to its calls for a full withdrawal from all territories captured in the 1967 Mideast War, including east Jerusalem.

Israel also strongly opposes the plan's endorsement for the right of large numbers of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to properties in what is now Israel.

But Ban and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is also visiting the region, are both hopeful dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians will continue, and that progress in establishing peace could be made.

At a news conference on Monday, Ban urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations, calling Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "a genuine partner for peace."

Israel has hesitated to talk peace with the moderate Abbas because the Palestinian cabinet is dominated by the Islamic movement Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel or renounce violence.

Ban was hopeful about prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

He met on Monday with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres.

Hebrew/Nat

The new Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, formally took office on Wednesday, completing a shift of power in Israel that has alarmed Arabs who fear the future of the peace process.

Netanyahu, his government and the former Prime minister Shimon Peres all attended a handover ceremony in Jerusalem.

On his way out of office, Peres said the path to middle east peace would not be easy but had to be pursued.

Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Shimon Peres has handed over his office to his successor, Benjamin Netanyahu.

It was a victory that surprised even right wing allies and left many Israelis as well as Arabs fearing the end of an already fragile peace process.

Handing over the office Peres had held for six months following the murder of his predecessor Yitchak Rabin he said the path to peace would not be easy.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

"Israel is near the top of a mountain but there are also mines on the way to the peak. If we stay in place we will never reach the peak but if we do want to get there - we'll have to deal with a lot of difficulties and a lot of mines but it is all worthwhile."

SUPER CAPTION: Former Prime minister Shimon Peres

Peres' speech seemed like a gentle hint to his 46 year old successor .

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

"We have a need to deal with many challenges in a democratic manner."

SUPER CAPTION: Former Prime minister Shimon Peres

Netanyahu said that despite earlier wrangling between his newly formed cabinet - they would succeed and work together.

SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)

"We will prove that the prime minister and the head of the coalition can work together , despite the differences, for the future of our children, for the future of our country and for the future of our people."

SUPER CAPTION: Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The ceremony took place Wednesday at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem where the two men shared a few laughs and a toast.

Netanyahu praised Peres for a half-century of service to the state -- and promised cooperation with the outgoing premier.

In return, Peres says he'll help instruct his successor in the

ways of governance.

Tuesday saw the prime minister elect present his government to the Knesset.

The 17 member cabinet was later approved by a 60-50 vote.

But there have been teething problems with the cabinet.

Netanyahu's inauguration was marred by tussling with his party's right wing over a Cabinet position for fiery ex-general Ariel Sharon.

After the swearing in ceremony Netanyahu went on to meet Israeli president Ezer Weizman for the traditional photos to be taken.

Netanyahu plans to hold his first meeting of his new government later.

Jerusalem, 18th and 19th June 1996

19th June:

1. Wide of exterior of prime minister's office

2. Netanyahu walking through

3. Ceremony in conference room

4. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Peres

5. Various of ceremony

6. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Peres

7. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Netanyahu

8. Peres and Netanyahu shaking hands

9. Audience clapping

10. Peres and Netanyahu having a celebratory drink

11. Netanyahu and rabbi

12. Peres and Netanyahu posing for photos

13. Cutaway press

14. Peres hugging woman

15. Various of ceremony

18th June:

16. Netanyahu and cabinet member

17. Pan of government

18. Wide of same

English/Nat

U-S Vice President Al Gore has told Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres that America stands behind his efforts for peace.

The Vice President has been visiting Jerusalem as part of his tour of the Middle East.

He's due to meet P-L-O leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank town of Jericho Tuesday.

The vice-president's plane touched down in Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel

Aviv where he was given a warm welcome by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

SOUNDBITE:

We welcome you as a longtime trusted friend of the state of Israel and of our people. You have stood by us in difficult days and in good days and we salute for that.

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli prime minister

Peres assured Gore that Israel remained committed to the peace process.

SOUNDBITE:

You have come to an Israel that is intensely engaged, that continues the work to peace. The goal of our effort is not victory over our adversaries, but peace with neighbours. Wherever you shall go you shall be greeted with heartfelt warmth and spontaneous good cheer.

SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres, Israeli prime minister

Gore praised his host's courage in the face of extremist violence.

SOUNDBITE:

Though hatred and extremism may have stilled the life of Yitzhak Rabin it has not stilled the yearning in our souls for peace with security and for tolerance, for hope and for understanding. The enemies of peace have seen the steely courage and resolution of Shimon Peres and of all Israelis as they continue the search for a lasting and comprehensive peace.

SUPER CAPTION: Al Gore, US vice-president

The vice-president ended by assuring Israelis that the United States stood behind Jerusalem's efforts to reach peace with Syria.

SOUNDBITE:

We must not, we shall not let go of the hope which we share for a future blessed with peace, security and prosperity. And as the people of Israel continue their historic march on their path toward peace, you can be sure that the United States of America will stand with you. We will not be daunted, we will not waver, as together we build a world

consecrated to life and to peace and free from the shadow of conflict for ever.

SUPER CAPTION: Al Gore, US vice-president

Gore's trip is being seen as a sign of Washington's determination to achieve a comprehensive Mideast settlement this year.

Israel has already signed peace agreements with Jordan and the Palestinians, and only Syria and Lebanon are missing to complete the circle.

Jerusalem, January 15, 1996

1. Plane on runway

2. Gore descends, is greeted by Peres

3. Gore and Peres walking together

4. SOUNDBITE: Peres

5. Pull out from Gore, listening

6. SOUNDBITE: Peres

7. SOUNDBITE: Gore

8. Security men

9. SOUNDBITE: Gore

10. Gore and Peres shake hands