JERUSALEM, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday he was prepared to enter negotiations with Syria without preconditions, playing down tensions following reports of an Israeli air raid earlier this month.

Israel has refused to comment on what U.S. officials and diplomatic sources have described in news reports as an Israeli air strike that may have targeted weapons headed for Lebanon's Hezbollah group or aimed at a suspected nuclear site.

Syria has denied any such project but said it could retaliate for the Sept. 6 violation of its territory.

"Like I said in the past, we want to make peace with anyone who is willing to make peace with us," Olmert told a group of reporters in Jerusalem when asked about Syria.

"We are willing to enter negotiations with Syria with no preconditions," Olmert said. "We have much respect for the Syrian leader and the Syrian policy. They have internal problems but this is no reason not to enter into dialogue with them."

A spokesperson for Olmert played down the comments, saying they were similar to what he has said repeatedly in the past.

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