ROME — Pope Benedict XVI is considering visiting Israel in the first part of 2007, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Thursday after meeting the pontiff at the Vatican.

"He indicated that he may do it in the first part of next year," Peres told a news conference after renewing an invitation first made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last year.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls confirmed the invitation had been extended but gave no details on the pope's response.

Peres said he did not think a dispute between the Vatican and Israel over taxation of church properties would stop a papal visit.

Some analysts have suggested the pope might not make the trip until the issues are worked out.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner also dismissed concern that the pope would not visit while the militant group Hamas leads the Palestinian government, saying: "I hope that by then the problem will not remain. Hamas made a government, but I don't see how they can govern."

Pope John Paul II visited the Holy Land in 2000, meeting with Israeli officials and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a stop in the Palestinian territories.

Benedict has continued John Paul's outreach to Jews, visiting a synagogue in Cologne, Germany, during his first trip abroad last year.

Peres delivered the invitation to the pope from acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"I told him that he will be welcomed I'm sure by all communities in Israel, clearly by the government of Israel, the people of Israel," Peres said. "The visit of the late pope was very successful and very meaningful, and I do believe that his visit can have an impact on the peace process as well."