Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]

Special report: Israel, Lebanon agree on ceasefire

Video: Lebanese PM rejects peace talks

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora rejected on Sunday Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert's call to hold a meeting, stating that Lebanon would be the last Arab state to make peace with Israel. This file photo was taken on August, 28, 2006 when Siniora hold a presss conference with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Beirut.(Xinhua, file photo) Photo Gallery >>>

     BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora rejected on Sunday Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert's call to hold a meeting, stating that Lebanon would be the last Arab state to make peace with Israel.

    Siniora made the rejection after Olmert Sunday appealed to his Lebanese counterpart to make peace with Israel.

    Olmert had sent many invitations to Siniora to arrange the meeting, said the media office of the Lebanese Premier in a statement, adding that "These invitations were refused even before they arrived."

    Last week, Siniora said that Lebanon would be the "last Arab country that could sign a peace agreement with Israel", noting that the Arab peace initiative was the foundation to establish a "just and inclusive" peace with Israel.

    He also demanded Israel to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in full by withdrawing from Lebanon and lifting its air and sea blockade on the country.

    Olmert called on Lebanon's Premier to shake hands, sign a peace treaty and also promised to do everything responsibly and thoughtfully to get every opportunity for peace between the two neighbors.

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

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    Olmert: Israel intends to shake hands with Lebanon

    

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday appealed to his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Seniora to make peace with Israel. The file photo was taken on August 28, 2006 when Olmert spoke during a conference in the northern city of Haifa.(Xinhua, file photo) Photo Gallery >>>

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." Enditem

    Lebanon takes steps to lift Israeli blockade: FM

    BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said Sunday that Lebanon was taking steps to get Israeli blockade lifted, Lebanese official news agency (NNA) reported.

    "The Israeli blockade is in violation of (UN Security Council) Resolution 1701, and we have taken steps to make sure it is lifted," Salloukh was quoted as saying.

    He described Lebanese parliament members' sit-in as "an important step toward helping the executive branch in its efforts to lift the blockade". Full story>>