Shimon Peres has called for Iran and Israel not to live as enemies even as a website linked to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime called for "the final annihilation of Israel".

The Israeli president and Nobel laureate, at a speech marking the creation of the Knesset 63 years ago, said that the two countries "were not born enemies".

The Israeli President has paid tribute to the late leader of the Czech Republic.

Playwright turned politician Vaclav Havel, who died on Sunday at the age of 75, led the nation as it moved from Communism to democracy.

Shimon Peres described Mr Havel as a friend of Israel and a personal friend, and said he was like nobody else.

Israeli President Shimon Peres is never one to turn down a celebrity meeting and here he is with actor Jason Alexander, best known as the hapless George in Seinfeld.

Alexander was heading a delegation on behalf of the organisation One Voice, which promotes support for a two-state solution among grassroots Israelis and Palestinians.

The Israeli soldier who was freed last week after five years in the captivity of Hamas has thanked President Shimon Peres for the support he gave the family.

Gilad Shalit and his parents met the president at their home in northern Israel today, six days after he returned to Israeli soil for the first time since June 2006.

The prisoners who are being released in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit have been officially pardoned.

However President Shimon Peres included a note with the pardon files that said the decision to free them had been made "with an aching heart".

"The voices of the terror victims and the deep grief of their families burns all of our hearts," he said.

Secret peace talks between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, took place in London, the JC can reveal.

The encounter was hosted over dinner by UK businessman Poju Zabludowicz at his north London home.

A secret meeting between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has taken place in London as part of a series of back-channel negotiations to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East, the JC can reveal.

The Israeli president has told a delegation of US congressman that he hoped "both sides" would return to Middle East peace talks within the next month.

Shimon Peres called for negotiations to resume "before September", when the Palestinians plan to unilaterally declare statehood at the United Nations.

Shimon Peres is said to be conducting secret talks with Palestinian negotiators in a bid to restart the peace process.

According to Ha'aretz the Israeli president has coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the discussions.

Mr Peres was said to have met Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, in Ramallah earlier this week and on other occasions.

Shimon Peres is a president for all occasions.

Quartet envoy Tony Blair has told an audience at the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem that "supporting freedom is an intervention that goes with the grain of human progress".

Israeli President Shimon Peres is to take part in a meeting with a Colombian representative next week – the pop star Shakira.

The singer will join Nobel Prize winners, politicians, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and US comedian Sarah Silverman at the annual Presidential Conference in Jerusalem.

Israel's president has warned of the dangers of "foot-dragging" when it comes to peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Shimon Peres said he was concerned by the stalemate situation and feared that Israel would become a binational state.

Shimon Peres has described Palestinian plans to unilaterally declare statehood at the UN as "an illusion".

The Israeli President told the Associated Press that it could be possible to conclude an agreement with the Palestinians" before September. But even if that did not happen, he said such a move would be meaningless.

"It will remain on paper and it will raise false hopes," he said.