By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent   
Tags: Syria, Hamas, Israel  
The Foreign Ministry has placed the Syrian issue as one of its central objectives for 2008. A document published by the ministry states its intention to "formulate a strategic plan to remove Syria from the radical axis."
Senior officials in the Foreign Ministry indicated that there is still no clear program for reaching this goal, but that a list of ideas includes the distancing of Syria from Iran, Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist organizations.
This objective is in line with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent "checking" with different Israel-Syria mediators to examine Damascus' willingness to start political negotiations with Israel.  
The Foreign Ministry's list of objectives for 2008, which was approved this week by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, also includes promoting the Annapolis process, continuing the isolation of Hamas in the international arena, and improving the standard of living within the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, the plan calls for the normalization of relations with Arab countries and for the "opening of new channels of communication with countries with which Israel has no diplomatic relations."
The plan also states the importance of thwarting Iran's nuclear developments and assisting Jewish communities in distress.  
Original Source