\"Shimon Peres is the first Israeli astronaut.\" So says former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, adding, \"Peres is in outer space, totally unconnected to what is going on here. He did not learn a thing from the great bloodshed caused by Oslo that he brought us.\" Peres is still hoping to meet with Arafat, saying that there has been \"a significant reduction in the extent of the attacks,\" that the Palestinians are shooting only light-weapons fire, and that it\'s already been 2-3 weeks since the last carbomb. Peres knocked Netanyahu for claiming that there is no American pressure for a meeting, and said that President Bush himself called Sharon to press him on the matter.



Although some in Israel see Netanyahu\'s recent media appearances as part of his political comeback, others have only praise for his sorely-needed efforts on behalf of Israeli public relations.