President Shimon Peres said Monday that the popular revolutions in the

Middle East could give Israel better neighbors, if it they lead Arab states to become more democratic and prosperous.

"Poverty and oppression in the region have fed resentment against Israel and the better our neighbors will have it, we shall have better neighbors," Peres told reporters in Geneva.

Open gallery view Anti-Syrian government protesters shout slogans in Damascus, Syria on Friday, March 25, 2011. Credit: AP

Changes in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and elsewhere carry great hopes and also But he added that Israel is watching protests closely, particularly those occurring in Syria. The weeklong series of anti-government demonstrations that have rocked that country changes the status quo in Israel's long time adversary," said Peres.

Dozens of people have died in Syria as government forces cracked down on demonstrations over recent weeks, in the largest popular protest against President Bashar Assad's regime. At least 55 people are believed to have been killed in and around the southern restive city Daraa alone, as secret police and special forces try to quell the protests.

Peres made his remarks regarding the Middle East revolutions while visiting Switzerland, where he is trying to boost scientific ties between the two countries and plans to visit the nuclear research centre CERN in Geneva.

The Arab revolutions were made possible by the advances in technology, Peres said during his meeting with Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey, who in turn pledged her country's support for humanitarian needs in the Middle East.

The Israeli Nobel Peace laureate said the Arab nations would also need to embrace technological advancements in order to achieve greater pluralism, according to the Swiss news agency ATS, giving the example of South Korea's transition to democracy.

"This is a very important and promising field," Peres said, regarding the planned scientific cooperation, which is set to focus on brain research. The cooperation agreement between Switzerland and Israel is to be signed on Tuesday.

But a Swiss human rights organization has also filed a complaint with the attorney general over the Peres visit.

The group slammed Israeli policy in the Palestinian territories as being contrary to the European nation's humanitarian principles and tantamount to "crimes against humanity.

After completing his visit to Switzerland, Peres is expected to head to London.



