Israel wants
Lebanon talks but not Syria
JERUSALEM—Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday invited the Lebanese
prime minister to begin peace talks following Israel's recent war
against Hezbollah guerrillas, but Olmert ruled out peace talks with
Syria at the present time, saying President Bashar Assad isn't a
suitable negotiating partner.
Olmert said Assad must halt its support for Palestinian militant groups
before the two nations can hold peace talks and dismissed the Syrian
leader's calls for negotiations as a "negotiating tactic." Syria hosts
the top leaders of Hamas, the ruling Palestinian political party, which
is committed to Israel's destruction.
Olmert said that Israel made significant gains in its battle against the
Lebanese guerrilla group. Olmert has been heavily criticized for his
handling of the war, in which Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into
Israel.
Olmert called on Lebanon's prime minister, Fuad Saniora, to enter peace
talks, saying the time has passed for indirect mediation between the
nations.
He made the proposal in a speech at the opening of parliament's winter
session.—Agencies |
