Peres, in New Year's Message, Calls for Jewish Unity

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres in a Rosh Hashanah message called on Jews in the Diaspora and Israel to work together.

In a message to Jewish communities around the world, Peres called for Israel to continue to "be a part of the Jewish and Zionist education of Jewish youth in the Diaspora," and for youth to visit the Jewish state as a way to achieve this goal.

Peres also called for Jews to work to thwart efforts to delegitimize Israel as the Jewish state and to "fight against fanatic leaders, armed with nuclear weapons, and who deny the Holocaust and call for the destruction of the State of Israel."

"Our mission for the coming year is to strengthen our unity in matters that affect the destinies and future of us all. We must work together in harmony and reach agreements through dialogue," he said. "Solidarity, brotherhood, tolerance and understanding are the foundations of a strong and secure family. We cannot, and must not, allow disagreements to tear us apart. We must collectively dedicate ourselves to the well-being of the Jewish peo