Lebanese PM rejected calls to meet: Olmert

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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he has unsuccessfully tried to arrange a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Fouad Siniora, to start peace talks between the two neighbours.

"Multiple calls for a meeting passed through different people were rejected," Mr Olmert said at a ceremony marking the first day of the school year in the northern town of Maalot.

There have been no diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon since the creation of the Jewish state in 1948.

"How simple and natural it would be if the Lebanese Prime Minister would accept my calls to sit together, shake hands and end this hatred which part of his people turned towards us," Mr Olmert said.

ABC.au

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1. Lebanese officials say Olmert's offer to meet Siniora is 'propaganda'

Senior Lebanese government officials said on Sunday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offer to meet his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora is nothing but "propaganda."


"We know nothing about Olmert's proposal to meet with Siniora," the officials said. (AFP)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3299130,00.html

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2. Olmert: Israel intends to shake hands with Lebanon

JERUSALEM, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday appealed to his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Seniora to make peace with Israel, the Ha'aretz daily reported on its website.

Olmert made the appeal during a visit to the Ort high school in Ma'alot-Tarsiha, saying that he has made many calls to the Lebanese prime minister.

"Come on, let's sit, shake hands, make peace and end once and for all the hostility, the jealous, the hatred that some of my people have toward you," Olmert was quoted as saying. Olmert also promised to do everything responsibly and thoughtfully to get every opportunity for peace between the two neighbors.

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

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