BEIT-UL-MOQADDAS(Reuters) -- Israel’s Ehud Olmert told his cabinet on Tuesday he hoped Lebanon would follow Syria in opening talks on “peace” with Israel, a political source said.

“Just as we started talks with Syria, I would hope it would be possible to start talks with Lebanon,” the source quoted Olmert as saying.
Syria and long-time enemy Israel have been holding indirect talks under Turkish auspices and further meetings in Turkey are expected later this week.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Olmert spoke in a closed meeting, said he “wasn't asking for talks with Lebanon” but was voicing his hope conditions would emerge to enable negotiations to be held.
Israel suffered a demoralizing defeat in a 34-day war it fought in 2006 with the Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah in Lebanon. After that humiliation, Israeli leaders made peace overtures toward Lebanon's government but no diplomatic breakthrough ensued.
Under a deal mediated last month, Hezbollah agreed to join a Lebanese national unity government in which it is guaranteed effective veto power.
Disclosure of the indirect “peace” track with Syria coincided with a corruption scandal that has led to demands by Olmert's political allies and foes for his resignation.
A U.S. businessman has testified that he gave the Israeli politician $150,000 in cash and loans he said have gone unpaid. Olmert has pledged to resign if indicted. -