P121 MTV3 p121 .Ma 06 Hel 2101:43 1/5 PERES SEES NO NEED FOR DAILY CHECK OF POPULARITY BY ANTHONY GOODMAN UNITED NATIONS, FEB 6 (REUTER) - ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES SAID HIS GOVERNMENT'S PEACE POLICY DID NOT NEED TO BE "APPLAUDED EVERY MORNING" BY ISRAELI PUBLIC OPINION. "TO MY TASTE, A TEST OF A GOVERNMENT IS WHEN IT CAN CONTINUE ITS POLICY WITHOUT BEING APPLAUDED EVERY MORNING, BECAUSE THE POLICY IS THE RIGHT ONE," HE SAID. PERES, NOW ON A VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE UNITED NATIONS AFTER BRIEFING ... <120 122>

P121 MTV3 p121 .Ma 06 Hel 2101:31 2/5 PERES SEES NO NEED FOR DAILY CHECK OF POPULARITY ... ALL 15 SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OTHER DIPLOMATS AND SENIOR U.N. OFFICIALS ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. HE SAID THE GROUP INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVEN ARAB DELEGATIONS. ASKED WHETHER ISRAEL'S LABOR-LED GOVERNMENT WERE LOSING DOMESTIC SUPPORT, IN VIEW OF A RECENT SPATE OF FATAL ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAELIS BY PALESTINIANS OPPOSED TO THE PEACE PROCESS, HE ADDED: "WE GOT A MANDATE FOR FOUR YEARS. WE DON'T HAVE TO ... <120 122>

P121 MTV3 p121 .Ma 06 Hel 2149:11 3/5 PERES SEES NO NEED FOR DAILY CHECK OF POPULARITY ... TEST OUR POPULARITY EVERY MORNING. ON THE CONTRARY, WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT EVEN THROUGH CORRIDORS OF LACK OF POPULARITY, WE ARE MAINTAINING THE MANDATE THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN." POPULARITY POLLS ARE "LIKE PERFUME, NICE TO SMELL BUT DANGEROUS TO SWALLOW," HE ADDED. "THE SENTIMENT IN ISRAEL IS FOR PEACE, BUT THERE IS A STRONG FEELING THAT FIGHTING TERROR MUST BE A JOINT VENTURE OF ALL THE PARTIES WHO ARE SEEKING PEACE." HE CONFIRMED THAT DURING HIS BRIEFING, THE QUESTION OF ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN OCCUPIED ... <120 122>

P121 MTV3 p121 .Ma 06 Hel 2144:42 4/5 PERES SEES NO NEED FOR DAILY CHECK OF POPULARITY ... TERRITORIES HAD BEEN RAISED. HE SAID HE REPLIED THAT ISRAEL HAS A THREE-POINT POLICY OF ITS OWN: NOT TO ADD NEW SETTLEMENTS NOT TO CONFISCATE LAND FOR NEW SETTLEMENTS OR TO ENLARGE EXISTING ONES AND NOT TO INVEST PUBLIC MONEY IN BUILDING HOUSES OR APARTMENTS IN THE SETTLEMENTS. REGARDING LACK OF MOVEMENT ON THE ISRAEL-SYRIA NEGOTIATING TRACK, HE SAID THIS IS NOT ENDANGERING THE PEACE PROCESS, ALTHOUGH "WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SYRIANS PARTAKING IN THE PROCESS." "BUT WHILE WE ARE ... <120 122>

P121 MTV3 p121 .Ma 06 Hel 2142:08 5/5 PERES SEES NO NEED FOR DAILY CHECK OF POPULARITY ... LOOKING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE, WE DON'T PROPOSE A COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATION BECAUSE...THE PARTY THAT MOVES AT THE SLOWEST PACE WILL DECIDE THE PACE OF EVERYBODY," HE SAID. <120 122>