Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, met recently in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Channel 10 reported on Monday.

          According to the Channel 10 report, Hoenlein delivered a message to Assad from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

          A senior official in Jerusalem said that Netanyahu knew about Hoenlein's trip but did not ask him to send a message or serve as a mediator. Hoenlein also denied that his trip involved diplomatic matters.

          Channel 10 reported that Hoenlein told Netanyahu about his trip before it occurred and even received Netanyahu's blessing. According to the report, Netanyahu sent a message to Assad via Hoenlein and after the trip was updated on the details of Hoenlein's conversation with the Syrian president.