Olmert rules out Syrian talks
2006-07-25 10:45
Jrusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out Syrian participation in diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Lebanon.
"Syria is not a partner in the current diplomatic effort," said Olmert while visiting an air base in the south of the country.
"Syria could get recognition only if it takes its finger off the trigger on the two fronts in Lebanon and Gaza."
Israel accuses Syria of continuing to arm the Shi'ite Hezbollah fighters and of giving asylum to Khaled Meshaal, the exiled political leader of Hamas, the ruling party of Palestine.
Israeli leaders, however, have said they have no wish to unleash an armed conflict with Syria. They said they preferred to concentrate their military efforts on Hezbollah.
Syria has adopted a wait-and-see policy since the Israeli offensive on Lebanon began on July 12, after Hezbollah captured two soldiers and killed eight others in cross-border attacks.
Damascus is seeking to end its current international isolation by putting itself forward as an inevitable partner in any solution to the crisis, Syrian analysts and a diplomatic source told AFP.