Fouad Siniora
Photo: Reuters
Destruction in Lebanon
Photo: Reuters
Lebanon: Olmert’s comments – propaganda
PM says his calls for peace talks were rejected by his Lebanese counterpart Siniora. Lebanese official responds: We know nothing of this. These comments really don't concern us, it's just propaganda
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that he has unsuccessfully tried to arrange a meeting with his Lebanese
counterpart Fouad Siniora to start peace talks between the countries , but a Lebanese official dismissed his comments as “propaganda.”
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Multiple calls for a meeting passed through different people were rejected" by Siniora, Olmert said at a ceremony marking the first day of the school year in the northern Israeli town of Maalot.
There have been no diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon since the creation of the Jewish state in 1948.
"How simple and natural it would be if the Lebanese prime minister would accept my calls to sit together, shake hands and end this hatred which part of his people turned towards us," the premier said.
"I hope this day is not far."
'We know nothing of this'
Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin said that he "tried to open a possible negotiations channel with the Lebanese government. He regrets that the Lebanese prime minister is not interested in extending his hand to peace."
But the Lebanese official dismissed the apparent olive branch from the Israeli premier.
"We know nothing of this. These comments really don't concern us, it's just propaganda," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Much of Lebanon's civilian infrastructure was devastated in the month-long offensive Israel launched after Shiite militants of Hezbollah captured two soldiers in a deadly cross-border raid on July 12.
More than 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon, overwhelmingly civilians, as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Last week, Siniora said that Lebanon would be the "last Arab country that could sign a peace agreement with Israel".
"There will be no agreement with Israel before there is a comprehensive peace deal that is just and lasting," he told a news conference in Beirut.
