No negotiations with Syria as long as it harbors terrorists:Israeli official

Israel would not negotiate with Syria as long as the country continued to back militant groups, the Ha'aretz daily reported on Tuesday, citing an official of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Office.

Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman of Olmert's Office, was quoted as saying on Monday that Israel had always been interested in achieving peace with its neighbors, but Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, had no interest in peace.

For Israel to agree to renew negotiations, Syria would first need to change its stance regarding terrorist groups, Eisin said.

Al-Assad told BBC on Monday that he was willing to hear if Israel was ready for rapprochement, but questioned whether the government of Olmert was strong enough to move toward peace.

Israel has blamed Syria for arming and funding factions sworn to Israel's destruction, such as the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and Palestine's Hamas, whose political leader Khaled Mashaal lives in Damascus.

Al-Assad denied the accusations in the interview with BBC, saying that Syria has offered Hezbollah political support only and his country would help ensure the Lebanese group did not acquire new weapons.

Source: Xinhua