JERUSALEM, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met on Monday afternoon with a delegation of the United States law-makers, discussing the recent Baker-Hamilton report and stressing that recommendations in the report will not necessarily become U.S. policy.
The delegation includes senior U.S. senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins and John Thune. Olmert and the senators discussed the Baker-Hamilton report and emphasized that in their view, although the report has led to a broad political discussion, it will not necessarily become U.S. policy, including regarding opposition to a dialogue with Iran and Syria.
Olmert briefed the delegation on the situation between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as well as his efforts to advance an open dialogue between the two sides. The prime minister said that he intends to meet with PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in order to advance various issues on the agenda.
Olmert stressed that, despite the fact that the firing of Qassam rockets continues, Israel is honoring the ceasefire. The Iranian issue also came up during the meeting. Olmert noted that sanctions on Iran are highly significant, adding that the U.S. efforts are contributing to the overall measures that are necessary to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons technologies.
Regarding the Syrian issue, Olmert reiterated that, despite a desire to achieve peace with Syria, the current regime in Damascus is not interested in a dialogue for peace, continuing to support extremists in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinians.
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group (ISG), led by James A. Baker and Lee H. Hamilton, recommended earlier this month the U.S. government to withdraw troops from Iraq and engage Iran and Syria diplomatically. U.S. President George W. Bush said that the U.S. needs "a new approach" in Iraq but indicated that he was unlikely to accept all of them.
