Syria refuses peace talks with Israel

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Senior Syrian officials said Monday the Israeli airstrike on a Syrian nuclear facility Sept. 6 has ruined all chances of peace with Israel.

The announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier Monday there would be no war with Syria, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Olmert said ongoing tension with Syria in the past few weeks would not turn into armed conflict, and while Syria's troops are "on alert," Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said Syria would not initiate an attack, Ynetnews reported.

Regarding talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Olmert said they "have gained momentum since the Palestinian unity government was dissolved and Hamas took over the Gaza Strip," the report said.

Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu challenged Olmert, saying the prime minister was "the only one in the State of Israel who believes (Abbas) is a partner," the report said.