Israel prez Shimon Peres congratulates Pratibha Patil

JERUSALEM: Israel's newly appointed President Shimon Peres has congratulated newly elected Indian President Pratibha Patil and has expressed his country's
desire to strengthen bilateral ties with New Delhi.
 
Peres called up Patil last afternoon to felicitate her on becoming the first woman President of India.  

The Nobel Laureate told Patil that Israel greatly values its relationship with New Delhi and views the strengthening of those ties to be of paramount importance, 'Ynetnews' reported.