Early Monday morning, an Israeli newspaper (Yediot Ahronot) reported that Prime Minister Olmert has recently held secret meetings with a high ranking Saudi official, possibly even Saudi King Abdullah himself. Olmert issued a cautious statement this morning denying reports that he had met with the king, but it remains unclear whether or not he met with other Saudi officials.

"I did not meet with the Saudi king and I did not meet with anyone who should cause a media stir," Olmert told Ynet (the website of Yediot Ahronot) in an interview.

According to Yediot Ahronot, Olmert met with a Saudi official sometime this month to discuss the prospect of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as the issue of Iran's nuclear program, which both Saudi Arabia and Israel have a mutual interest in curbing for the sake of “regional stability.”

According to Haaretz, these talks took place on 13 Sept 2006. Army Radio reported that the meetings were held at the Royal Palace in Riyadh.

This afternoon, Ha’aretz reported that Saudi Prince Bandar (former Saudi ambassador to the US and long time participant in Middle East peace negotiations) may have been the senior official alluded to in earlier reports. According to Ha’aretz, the meetings may not have included Olmert personally, but an envoy sent by the Prime Minister’s office to participate in talks with Saudi officials, with Bandar as some type of interlocutor.

The Prime Minister’s office, however, has told the Israeli daily that "we know of no such meeting." Saudi sources, including a Saudi legislator quoted on Israel Radio, has also denied any reports of a meeting.

Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, but Saudi Arabia has been trying to revive peace talks with Israel since 2002, when it authored the Arab League peace initiative. This proposal has made a recent return to the negotiating table as a possible foundation for renewed talks between Israel, the Palestinians, and other Arab countries.

Even though the proposal was quickly rejected by Sharon when it was introduced, Olmert has not been as quick to turn down the Saudi initiative.

"I am very impressed with different processes and statements that are connected to Saudi Arabia, some that have been stated publicly and others as well. I am very impressed with King Abdullah's wisdom and sense of responsibility," Olmert was quoted as saying just last week.

On the Syrian front, however, Israeli officials have shown much less enthusiasm regarding renewed peace negotiations. Israeli officials have said that the Syrian government must stop supporting militant organizations like Hezbollah before there can be any talk of peace.

Syria calls for peace

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad announced Sunday that his country seeks "peace with Israel" and is not opposed to potential US intervention in the region.

In an interview with the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel, Assad extended his overture for peace and support for US involvement, but warned the US to carefully consider the needs of other nations in the region.

"America must listen," the Syrian president said. "It must listen to the interests of others."

Assad also leveled harsh criticism against the US government, blaming its policies in the Middle East for "contributing to hopelessness in our country, and to silencing the dialogue between cultures." Speaking of the “war on terror,” Assad likened Bush's approach to terrorism to "a doctor constantly banging away at a tumor instead of removing it surgically."

Assad, who has been criticized heavily in the West for his close ties with Iran, distanced himself from Ahmadinejad's statements regarding the Jewish state.

"I don't say that Israel should be wiped off the map. We want to make peace—peace with Israel," Assad said.