Israel seeking peace talks with Syria, says minister

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel is trying to revive peace talks with Syria in a deal that could involve the occupied Golan Heights, an Israeli minister said on Friday.

Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer's comments follows Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's remarks this week that Israel was willing to make peace with Syria.

"Every effort is being made to bring Syria to the negotiating table," Ben-Eliezer told Israel Radio.

"We know that sitting at the negotiating table is not to sing Hatikva (Israel's national anthem) but to sign an agreement, and we know very well the price of this agreement."

Asked if the price was to relinquish control of the Golan Heights, Ben-Eliezer said: "Exactly."