A group of Israelis, including a number of former government and security officials, have joined together to bring public pressure on Israel‘s government to pursue talks with Syria. The Forum of the Peace Initiative with Syria met on Sunday night in a location notably representative of Israeli Jews and Arabs to kick-off its public efforts. While participants were joined by a desire to see the government respond to recent overtures from Damascus, motivations varied. Some believe Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad is motivated to make peace, while others said it was necessary “to call his bluff." All apparently believe that, as a former director general of the Foreign Ministry said, to ignore the Syrian overtures would be "a strategic mistake of immense proportions." The formation of the lobby comes simultaneously with word of Iranian support for Al-Asad. Geostrategy-Direct reports that Tehran is spending tens of millions of dollars to "organize, equip and finance at least two major militias under Assad’s direct control." The organization reports that Al-Asad has reciprocated by providing a military base near the Syrian-Lebanese border.