Netanyahu calls for peace with Syria

JERUSALEM, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday said his nation desires peace with Syria rather than mutual threats of attack.

Speaking at the opening of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel had signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan and wished to do with Syria and the Palestinians.

Turkish-mediated talks between Syria and Israel stalled last year, with tensions spiking last week after aggressive comments from ministers in each country, The Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said Israeli cities would suffer in a military confrontation with Syria, while Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned the Assad regime would not survive combat.

"When the Syrian foreign minister says that they will attack population centers in Israel, that is crossing a red line," Lieberman said.

In an editorial Sunday, Syria's official newspaper, Tishreen, said Damascus wanted peace with Israel but was also prepared for war.