Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday morning that a war with Syria is not expected to break out, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.

    Addressing a special cabinet meeting, Olmert said Israel does not plan to attack, and neither does Syria.

    "But there is concern that someone may mistakenly think that there will be an offensive and a war which no one is interested in," Olmert was quoted by the daily as saying.

    On Sunday, Yossi Baidatz, head of the research division of Israel's Military Intelligence, said at a weekly cabinet meeting that Syria is concerned about going to war and is keeping a watchful eye on Israel, but it would probably not initiate one.

    Israel occupied Syria's Golan Heights 40 years ago during the Middle East war in 1967. Since the ceasing of hostilities and several skirmishes after the Middle East war in 1973, the border between Israel and Syria has been one of Israel's quietest frontiers.

    However, Israel and Syria still consider each other as their military threat, the report said.

    Israeli media reported earlier this year that Syria has been massing its troops along the border with Israel, which sparked Israel's concern that Syria will recapture the Heights

(Xinhua)