Meshal: Olmert too weak to make peace

Hamas politburo chief, Khaled Meshal said yesterday in Tehran that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was too weak to make peace.

Also in Iran for talks yesterday, Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani began an official visit to Iran yesterday and is expected to discuss military agreements between the two countries with Iran's leadership.

"This visit is taking place at the invitation of Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar," the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The visit is aimed at following up on joint defense agreements, ways to boost defense ties and (talks) on the latest regional and international developments," a ministry source was quoted as saying.

Iran denied yesterday that it is opposed to the indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at a press conference in Tehran, held with visiting Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal, that Tehran "supports Damascus in seeking to restore the Golan."

"The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, is too weak to take the necessary steps for peace with Syria," said Meshal yesterday.

Mottaki did not comment directly on the announcement Wednesday that Israel and Syria had entered indirect negotiations, but Meshal said "there is great skepticism concerning [Israel's] seriousness about returning the Golan Heights."

"It's maneuvering and playing with all the (negotiating) tracks - it's a well-known game and, besides, Olmert's weakness will not allow him to take this step," the Hamas leader said.

Meshal, who is based in Damascus, was careful not to criticize Syria's decision to enter negotiations with Israel and said he was sure the renewed talks would not come at the expense of the Palestinian track.

He once again condemned of the blockade of Gaza, and again threatened to forcibly reopen the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

"If the international community and the concerned parties don't take the initiative and break the siege, we will break it ourselves. We insist on opening all crossings, particularly Rafah," Meshal said.

Last week, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declared that Israel expects Syria to cut ties with Iran and the militant groups as part of a peace accord.

Syria rejected this demand, according to a government-affiliated newspaper.

Yesterday's editorial in Tishrin, which reflects official policy, said Israel could not lay down conditions ahead of negotiations.

"Damascus does not want preconditions, that would put the cart before the horse ... It does not bargain over its relations with other countries and people," the editorial stated.

"It goes without saying that impossible conditions cannot facilitate the work of negotiators," added the editorial, which likened doing so to putting spikes in the wheels of the peace process.