http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183980038909&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Syria rejects offer to hold peace talks
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
Jul. 10, 2007 (excerpt)
Damascus has rejected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s offer to hold peace talks with President Bashar Assad, Army Radio reported on Tuesday morning.
Syrian parliament member Muhammad Habash said late Monday night that Damascus did not believe Olmert’s overtures were serious.
In an historic interview with Saudi satellite station Al Arabiya, aired by Channel 10 Monday evening, Olmert invited Assad to Jerusalem to talk. . .
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/10/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Syria.php
Olmert offers to open peace talks with Syria
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 (excerpt)
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to reopen peace talks between the two countries in an interview published Tuesday.
Israel had already appealed to Syria to open negotiations, but Syria insisted that talks be mediated by the Americans, who are not interested, Olmert said. . .
Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Tuesday that Olmert indeed wants to resume talks with Syria and his offer was “genuine and real.” But Dichter was not optimistic that Assad would agree to renew the talks, especially because he is allied with Iran, Israel’s greatest enemy.
“Bashar Assad apparently has other plans than making peace with Israel,” Dichter told Army Radio. “And now we will listen and wait.” . . .