By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that Syria’s current conduct prevents Israel from engaging in negotiations with it.
Livni made the remarks at a meeting in Tel Aviv with European Union ambassadors, according to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth’s website.
Syria’s role in the Middle East was “unconstructive” as it continued to supply weapons to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, meddle in Lebanese politics and support terror organizations, including the Palestinian Hamas, Livni was quoted as saying.
However, Livni urged the EU envoys to help push Syria away from the “Axis of Evil” and bring it closer to moderate Arab countries.
Syria expressed interest in renewing peace talks with Israel earlier this year, but Israel has rejected the overtures, saying Damascus must first end its support for Lebanese and Palestinian militants who attack Israel.
The latest round of peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000.
Before last month’s U.s.-sponsored Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Syria had requested to raise the issue of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights at the conference.
The issue was not addressed at the summit, but speculations has been raised that the peace process between Israel and Syria could be discussed in meetings following the Annapolis summit.