Neither Jerusalem nor Washington have changed their views on talks with Syria, Israeli and American sources said in response to recent media reports claiming that both now favor such talks.

A few months ago, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he was "examining" Syria's intentions in publicly calling for a resumption of negotiations, which broke off more than seven years ago. According to the Israeli sources, this examination is still not finished, and the government has not yet formulated a clear stance on whether talks should be restarted.

A diplomatic source said Thursday that the United States had never vetoed Israeli-Syrian talks; it merely asked that Israel not surprise it. A senior Israeli government source added that Israel never requested American permission to talk with Syria, as it has not yet decided whether it wishes to do so.

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The U.S administration views Syria as a troublemaker that facilitates terror in Iraq and the territories and is undermining Lebanon's stability. Its message to Israel in recent months has been that Israel is welcome to negotiate a return of the Golan Heights to Syria if it desires, but the U.S. will not support or assist such talks, because it fears that extending a hand to Syrian President Bashar Assad would endanger Fuad Siniora's government in Lebanon.