Peres calls for easing of siege of Arafat

JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on Monday said on national television that Israel should "ease the siege" on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in a criticism of government strategy.

"We must not deceive ourselves. We cannot resolve the problem in one fell swoop, this is very complicated," he said, adding: "We must ease the siege of Arafat because we have polarised media attention."