Jerusalem  - Syrian President Bashar Assad should prove he is serious about negotiating a peace deal with Israel by holding direct talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem and Damascus, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Monday.

Israel Radio quoted the 84-year-old president as saying that Peres said that all Arab leaders who signed peace treaties with Israel - Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Jordan's King Hussein - had met directly with Israeli leaders, in order to expedite the processes and to shorten the gaps.

Jerusalem- In a move which could lead to the end of a long political career, Israeli

Ramallah - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minsiter

Jerusalem  - In a dramatic announcement Wednesday, the leader of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's largest coalition partner called on the premier to turn the reins of government over to another member