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Syrian paper: Israel sends mixed signals

23 minutes ago

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria had no official reaction Sunday to Israel's announcement that it has sent secret peace feelers to the Arab country, but a state-run Syrian newspaper accused Israel of sending mixed signals.

The state-run, English-language Syria Times daily said it believed the Israeli government had no intention of making peace with Arabs, and accused Israel of sending contradictory messages.

"Syria has every right to doubt the intentions of (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert and his statements regarding his desire to talk peace, at a time when his war generals and senior aides are launching warlike threats," the newspaper said. "It's a blatant contradiction."

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz said Saturday that the Israeli government had put out secret peace feelers to Syria, but said there was so far no response from Damascus.

Mofaz said a letter had been sent to Damascus, but refused to divulge its contents.

His public confirmation came a day after an Israeli newspaper reported that Israel had told Syrian leaders it could give up the captured Golan Heights as part of a peace deal in which Syria would distance itself from Iran's virulently anti-Israeli regime.

The paper, the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, said Olmert had recently sent messages to Syrian President Bashar Assad, through German and Turkish diplomats, saying Israel was open to direct peace negotiations and was prepared to give up the strategic plateau, which it seized in the 1967 Mideast war.

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told Israeli Radio that the country's military was preparing for any scenario.

"The Israeli military has to be ready on all fronts," he said.

Syrian paper: Israel sends mixed signals (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070610/ap_on_re_mi_ea/syria_israel;_ylt=Apn1DcctalnNWYDrhUhGdF5vaA8F)