Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Wednesday suggested Syrian President Bashar
Assad should come to Jerusalem if he was serious about peace negotiations with Israel.

Peres made the statements on Israel Radio following an interview with Assad broadcast on the BBC on Monday, in which the Syrian president said that he was ready for talks, but questioned whether Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government had the strength to move toward peace.

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Peres said Assad should seek to address the Knesset in Jerusalem, adding that, "If Assad said 'I am coming to the Knesset' would anyone stop him?"

"He needs to say 'I want to speak with Israel about peace. That is it. I want to meet,'" Peres said.

Peres made similar statements on Tuesday evening on Channel 1.

The government reiterated on Tuesday it would not negotiate with Syria, accusing the country of continuing to back militant groups that want to destroy Israel.

Officials from Olmert's office were not immediately available to comment on Peres' remarks.

Peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000. Syria seeks the return of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in a move that has not been recognized internationally.

The United States and Israel say Syria arms and funds factions such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. Assad has denied the allegations.