Israeli Losing Patience for Iran Talks

Israeli Losing Patience for Iran Talks: "A senior member of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government suggested Wednesday that his country is running out of patience with a U.S.-backed diplomatic overture to head off Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Top U.S. and Israeli officials also briefly discussed a possible Israeli peace initiative to adversary Syria during security talks Wednesday, a U.S. spokesman said.

The talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others were focused largely on Iran. Israel accuses Iran of arming Hezbollah militants attacking Israel now, but is more concerned over the possibility that Iran might acquire nuclear weapons in the future.

'Iran continues a military nuclear program,' said Shaul Mofaz, Israel's deputy prime minister and transportation minister, following a meeting with Rice.

'I believe diplomatic efforts should bear results until the end of 2007,' Mofaz added without elaboration.

Although cryptic, his remark was apparently a sign of declining Israeli confidence that carrot-and-stick diplomacy will persuade Iran to give up parts of its nuclear program that Israel and the West fear could lead to a bomb." Read complete post here.