Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated Thursday that it is impossible for Israel to hold peace talks with Syria, accusing Damascus of sheltering Palestinian terrorists.

"These are reasons that even Syria's statements that it is interested in negotiations can not be taken seriously," Olmert was quoted by Israel Radio as saying.

Olmert made the remarks in response to remarks by Syrian President Bashar Assad to the German weekly Der Spiegel last week in an interview, during which he said "we want to make peace -- peace with Israel."

Assad said that so long as Israel allows Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), to take refuge in Damascus, negotiations were impossible.

Olmert has rejected the overture, saying Damascus "was and remains the main supporter of the Palestinian terror groups which daily try to carry out terrorism against the state of Israel."

"In my opinion, this is not a foundation on which it is possible to hold peace negotiations," he added.

In a special interview with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Monday, Olmert said that he did not see Assad as a partner that could lead the peace process.

Source: Xinhua