Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday he had made numerous and unsuccessful overtures to his Lebanese counterpart to talk
peace. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's office responded that no such invitations had arrived and would be rejected anyway.

Olmert said: "How natural it would be if the Lebanese prime minister replied to the many requests I conveyed to him, through different people, to sit down together, shake hands, make peace and end once and for all the hostility, fanaticism and hatred that part of his country feels towards us."

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A statement from Siniora's office said: "Nobody has conveyed such invitations. [They] are rejected before they arrive."

"What is required from Israel is that it ... withdraw from the Lebanese territory it has occupied and from the Shaba Farms and stop violating the [UN truce] resolution by ending its unjust blockade of Lebanon," it added.

"Lebanon will be the last state to sign peace with Israel and that can only happen based on the Arab peace initiative," it said.

He was referring to a 2002 initiative that offers peace and normalization of Arab relations with Israel in return for its return of all land captured in the 1967 Middle East war, establishment of a Palestinian state and a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue.

The Lebanese foreign minister called Sunday for Olmert to show he was serious about making peace by ending the air and sea blockade on his country imposed at the start of the 34-day conflict in July.

Olmert said earlier Sunday that he had appealed to Siniora through various intermediaries, and urged him to establish peaceful ties between Israel and Lebanon.

But Fawzi Salloukh dismissed Olmert's comments, saying Israel should first comply with the August 14 United Nations cease-fire resolution.

"The Lebanese government calls on Olmert to lift the blockade on Lebanon first, and fully implement UN resolution 1701 before talking about peace," Salloukh said.

On a visit to ORT High School in Ma'alot-Tarsiha, Olmert said "How natural, how understandable it would be for the prime minister of Lebanon to respond to the many calls I have made toward him and say, 'Come on, let's sit, shake hands, make peace and end once and for all the hostility and jealousy," he said.

"I hope this day comes soon. I yearn for it. I am sure that you yearn for it. I'm sure all of Israel yearns for it. But until then, we will do everything, thoughtfully, responsibly to handle everything needed to be ready for every opportunity," Olmert said.

Last week Siniora said that Lebanon "would be the last Arab country that could sign a peace agreement with Israel."

Olmert also vowed to invest resources so that the Galilee and north would be a "flourishing paradise."

"The fact that we are starting the school year without any disruptions in the north is testament to the intense vitality that characterizes Israeli society," Olmert said.

A number of small demonstrations, organized by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, took part in the area, with few participants. The protesters called on Olmert to appoint a state commission of inquiry to investigate the war in Lebanon. Also demonstrating were local residents, protesting against the municipalities.

"Sometimes doubts arise when you hear laments, but when you free yourself and the fog clears, you encounter the nation of Israel, the optimism, the joy, pride and creativity - then you say that no one can defeat us."