Peres also referred to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, set to relaunch in Washington on Thursday, stressing that "there should be no negotiations with terrorists, but we should hold talks with those that denounce terror and want peace."
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni (Kadima) voiced similar comments about both the attack and peace talks saying, "We cannot let the terror attack interfere with… the peace negotiations." Livni said that the attack testifies to the lack of humanity and the desire to derail peace talks, but the "Israeli interest is to reach an agreement." The terrorists had a "cold, political motive: to prevent the peace process," explained Livni.
"I believe there is a chance for peace. There is no chance for peace with those who do not accept the existence of the state of Israel and who try to hurt Israel’s citizens," Livni stressed.
"The national, Jewish and Israeli interest is to reach an agreement on two states for two nations. I am telling the prime minister from here, there is a public and political majority which wants an agreement."
Right-wing MKs also linked Tuesday evening’s terror incident to the beginning of the negotiations in Washington, with members of the National Union calling for talks to be frozen following the attack in which four Israelis were killed.
Rebecca Anna Stoil contributed to this report Jpost.com