WASHINGTON -- It cannot be said that we do not live in interesting times. Ehud Olmert announced last week that he was resigning as prime minister of Israel on Sept. 16 and would not seek reelection. Dogged by accusations of corruption, the Israeli prime minister has been pushed to resign for the sake of his party and fellow citizens, and sparing them the embarrassment of having to face accusations while at the helm of the country.

What the Arab papers said on July 29:

Syrian President Bashar Assad appears to be serious about pursuing peace. But just how serious is he? Assad seems to be taking his desire to talk peace with Israel to heart, an issue explained in greater detail by his ambassador in Washington. But more on that in a moment.

In recent weeks there have been a number of indications that a rapprochement between Syria and Israel might still be possible. At a press conference held in Washington, D.C., Syrian Ambassador Imad Mustapha said that he believed the time was right for peace talks between his country and Israel. While the unexpected overtures from Damascus have been given somewhat of a frosty reception in Israel, there is a growing belief in the Jewish state that peace with Syria will pay dividends.

Syrian Ambassador to Washington Imad Mustapha spoke last Friday with reporters for more than an hour about the nature of the target of Israels Sept. 6, 2007 airborne attack on what the United States and Israel say was a nuclear processing facility being built with the help of the north Koreans.

Syria has refuted U.S. accusations that it was seeking North Korean technical assistance to develop a secret nuclear program stating it does not have a plan to acquire nuclear technology, even for peaceful purposes.

The U.S. government is accusing Damascus of attempting to develop a secret nuclear program. Syria denies any such intent. Does the scenario sound all to familiar? It should.

Will the defection of former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam - the highest-ranking member of the inner circle of power in Damascus to turn on the regime - bring about the demise of President Bashar Assad? That remains to be seen.

Four more US soldiers have died in Iraq, including a marine in the restive town of Ramadi, the Pentagon announced on Saturday. Also in the city, a soldier died of wounds sustained when a rocket struck his vehicle on Thursday.