Senior lawmakers from the Likud and Labor parties on Thursday expressed their support for moves toward a return to the negotiating with Syria, Israeli media reported.

Their comments came after a Syrian official said earlier Thursday that Damascus is interested in renewing the peace process with Israel, and a day after similar remarks by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"Our stance remains as it was. We are ready to renew negotiations for peace, and interested in working for peace," the Syrian official told the French news agency, Agence France-Presse.

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With reference to Olmert's call for a renewal of direct negotiations with Syria, the Syrian official said: "Syria is following the Israeli announcements very closely."

Nevertheless, he emphasized: "We don't have any high hopes that things will change."

Army Radio on Thursday evening quoted former foreign minister Silvan Shalom of the Likud as saying that Israel must be attentive to signals of peace coming from Syria, but simultaneously, be ready for any scenario.

"We must aspire to achieve peace, but at the same time not close our eyes," he said.

Shalom emphasized that any move involving Damascus must be coordinated with the United States and the moderate Arab states, the radio said.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio on Thursday quoted Welfare Minister Yitzhak Herzog (Labor) as saying that, "Israel is ready for a diplomatic process with Syria and a real, honest dialogue."

Herzog, who is currently attending a conference on anti-Semitism in Romania, added "the problem with Syria is its proximity to and cooperation with Iran, and Syria's continuing aid to Hezbollah and Hamas."

Olmert on Wednesday told the security cabinet that Israel was interested in reaching a peace agreement with Damascus, and called for the renewal of direct negotiations with the Syrian regime.

The prime minister spoke at a special meeting of the security cabinet to be briefed on Syrian intentions and about preparations the army has taken for a possible conflagration on the northern border.

"Israel does not wish to engage in war with Syria, and the scenario of miscalculation must be avoided, as it will bring about a deterioration in security," the concluding statement of the briefing read.

The Israel Defense Forces officers who participated in the military briefing before the security cabinet's ministers Wednesday said the principal concern was that the Syrians might react to an Israeli move as a result of miscalculation. In such an event, the military believes that Hezbollah will strike at Israel from Lebanon.

The Syrian Army is capable of redeploying from its defensive formation and attacking Israel with relative speed, Military Intelligence chief Major General Amos Yadlin yesterday told the security cabinet. Yadlin added, however, he did not believe the Syrians wished to engage Israel militarily.

The security establishment has become increasingly concerned in recent months with the possibility of hostilities breaking out on the northern border following reports that Iran, Syria and Hezbollah were coordinating their actions in case of a confrontation with Israel. According to the reports, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both based in Damascus, are not included in the coordination efforts.

The deputy chief of the Shin Bet security service informed the ministers about current trends among the Druze population on the Golan. The Shin Bet did not anticipate that the Druze would engage in terrorist activity under Syrian auspices, he said.