News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday night that he is ready to hold direct negotiations with Syria. In a meeting with the Knesset’s security cabinet, Olmert expressed his willingness to begin direct dialogue and warned his ministers that any statements they made to the media could push Israel towards war. The Syrians “have very sensitive nerves,” Olmert said, and could easily become aggressive.

Olmert rejected predictions that Syria would attempt to stage an operation to take parts of the strategic Golan Heights. He warned the cabinet that if fighting were to break out between Israel and Syria, Lebanese terrorist group Hizbullah would begin attacking as well.