Visiting U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will convey message to Syria that Israel is interested in peace if Damascus stops supporting terrorism, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported Sunday.

"Pelosi is conveying that Israel is willing to talk if they ( Syrians) would openly take steps to stop supporting terrorism," Miri Eisin, spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was quoted as saying.

"But at this point the Syrian government, by openly backing terror all around the Middle East, is not a partner for negotiations," the spokeswoman added.

Pelosi met Sunday with Olmert and the families of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers, as part of a Middle East tour that has drawn criticism from the White House because of a planned stop in Syria.

On Sunday evening, the California Democrat told Israeli lawmakers that Americans "stand united with Israel now and always. "

During a formal dinner with Israeli Acting President and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, Pelosi said she would not rest until the kidnapped soldiers are returned to their homes and she would make this clear to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The White House last week called Pelosi's stop in Syria a "bad idea" since the administration considers the Arab country a supporter of terrorism.

Pelosi's trip also includes stops in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Source: Xinhua