Deputy Prime Minister & Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, who met in Washington with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, stated Syria�s overtures towards peace are not adequate and Damascus must decide to abandon the �axis of evil� and move towards a more pro-Western policy.

Mofaz pointed out that Syria is committed to assisting terrorists including Hizbullah, Iran and Hamas, and until President Bashar al-Assad backs up his words with actions, there cannot be any significant progress in peace talks with Yerushalayim.

�The ball is in Syria�s court,� stated Mofaz, a former IDF chief of staff, explaining Israel�s hand is extended towards peace but Syria must now take the next step.

Mofaz will be discussing a number of issues with Dr. Rice, including the failed� implementation of the Second Lebanon War Ceasefire Resolution 1701, citing the growing Hizbullah presence along Israel�s border with southern Lebanon.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)