Berlin, Jan 12, IRNA -- Damascus on Monday rejected an invitation by 
Israel for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hold `serious 
negotiations` in Jerusalem on the future of the peace process, DPA 
reported. 
Israel`s offer for a meeting in Jerusalem was perceived in 
Damascus `as an attempt to lead Syria`s peace efforts to a failure`, 
DPA said. 
The invitation also came following Assad`s recent call to the 
United States to help mediate for a resumption of its peace talks with
Israel.