Peres calls for Mideast cease-fire

Peres discussed options with Pique

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has called for a return to a Middle East cease-fire, as some of the most intense violence in recent months hit the region.

"Life is being lost, life is being destroyed, we ourselves are doing things we are forced to do, we would never like to do," Peres told reporters, in a joint news conference with his Spanish counterpart, Josep Pique, on Thursday.

"I think our aim should be to return to a cease-fire as soon as we can."

Peres and Pique discussed several options to implement a cease-fire, including renewing security meetings between Palestinians and Israelis "right away," Peres said.

"Basically we are convinced that the real solution must be a political solution," Peres said.

Peres arrived in Madrid earlier on Thursday, saying he was seeking European Union support for his peace plan for the Middle East.

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Commenting on a report in The New York Times newspaper, Peres said he had doubts about Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah's proposal that his country is prepared to normalize relations with Israel if it were to sign a peace accord with the Palestinians.

But he added that he would like to see Saudi Arabia play a role in the peace process.

"It's the first time that Saudi Arabia has taken an open position that calls for peace," Peres said.

"I think would Saudi Arabia (have participated) in the previous negotiations, she could have helped the peace process including the Palestinian side to obtain a much better position."

In attacks on Thursday, Israeli gunships hit Palestinian security and police targets in near simultaneous raids. (read full story)

The latest Israeli operation came soon after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's security cabinet approved "a new type of response" to Palestinian attacks.

Sources inside the Israeli government said they believe Israel is now involved in a "full-scale guerrilla war" with the Palestinians.

The latest violence comes against a backdrop of increased terror attacks by militant Palestinian groups and reprisal attacks by Israel's military.

Israel mounted attacks on Palestinian targets in Gaza and the West Bank after Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday killed six Israeli policemen in an ambush at an Israeli checkpoint on the West Bank.