VIDEO - Israel plansto simultaneously pursue the peace negotiations with Syria andthe Palestinians, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert toldFrench Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner during their meeting in Jerusalem on Thursday.
The prime minister made it clear to the most senior French diplomat that Israel strives for an agreement with the Palestinians within the next year, adding that the talks between the negotiating teams – headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and chief Ahmed Qurei - were "serious and important".
As for the renewed talks between Jerusalem and Damascus, Olmert said, "the Syrians know what we want, and we know what they want."
Earlier on Thursday Defense Minister Ehud Barak saidthat "the Syrians know concessions are a two-way street. Taking Syria out of the axis of evil is a primary goal for Israel. One must be realistic – peace can only be achieved from a position of power.
"Both sides know they will be required to make painful sacrifices… We still have a long way to go," he said.