Israeli President Moshe Katsav has invited his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Asad to come to Jerusalem for "serious negotiations" on a peace accord between the hostile neighbours. Negotiations between the two countries, technically still at war, collapsed in 2000. But al-Asad has recently urged the United States to help revive the talks. "I invite President al-Asad to come to Jerusalem to seriously negotiate with Israeli leaders on the conditions of a peace accord," Katsav said on Israeli public radio on Monday. Katsav's office is largely ceremonial, but it was the strongest sign from Israel of a willingness to talk since Assad said last month that he was keen to resume negotiations. There was no immediate reaction from Syria to Katsav's invitation and it was not clear if the Israeli president had made the overture through formal channels. Some observers allege both sides are using calls for talks as a tactical gestures to dispel claims they are obstructing peace in the region. **Strategic region*** Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has not yet commented on president's invitation to al-Asad, said on Sunday he was ready to forge peace with the Palestinians and Syrians. But he said Syria had to show a willingness to bring an end to "terrorism" - referring to Damascus' backing for Palestinian resistance groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the Lebanese Shia Hizb Allah movement. The invitation to al-Asad follows recent criticism from Syria and from around the world of Israeli plans to build more illegal settlements on the occupied Golan Heights, which Israel seized after invading Syria in the 1967 war. Previous US-sponsored peace talks between Israel and Syria collapsed over the issue of how much of the region would be returned. Syria wants all of the heights back - a stance backed by international law. But Israel sees the territory as strategically important for controlling the Sea of Galilee, its biggest reservoir. **Secret contacts*** An Israeli minister said on Sunday Israel had had secret contacts with Syria several months ago - well before recent Syrian overtures - but they broke down after word of the meetings leaked out. Foreign minister Silvan Shalom said they were part of the effort to restart peace talks between Israel and Syria. Earlier talks broke down in 2000. Shalom said Israel had secret meetings seven or eight months ago with people "very close" to al-Asad. "Unfortunately, after two meetings that the Israeli partners had with their Syrian colleagues, it leaked out. And while it was exposed, of course the Syrians didn't continue to negotiate through this track," he said. But in Damascus, an official with the information ministry denied there had been any secret contacts. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Syria's policy remained linked to international initiatives that called on Israel to withdraw from all occupied territories and blamed it for the current stalemate. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Moshe Katsav (L), Bashar al-Asad.