Peretz made the remarks in a meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on the tour aiming to end Israel-Lebanon conflict. Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on its Web site.

"Due to the weakness of the Lebanese army, Israel supports the possibility of deploying a multinational force with a strong mandate," Peretz was quoted by Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz as saying.

Peretz told Steinmeier that the force should come from NATO and act to prevent weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon. He, however, gave no time frame for any deployment.

He, meanwhile, stressed that the release of the two Israeli soldiers abducted by Lebanese Shiite Hizbollah militia on July 12 is the key to solve the current crisis.

Israel's offensive in Lebanon would continue and the goal is to create a situation in which Israel have as broad a space for diplomatic movement as possible, said Peretz.

But he noted that Israel has no intention of entering into a war with Syria.

The meeting between Steinmeier and Peretz was one of a series of diplomatic meetings aimed at ending Israeli offensive in Lebanon held here on Sunday.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were also scheduled to meet with Israeli officials.

Israel has been battling along its northern border with Lebanon for 12 days in an effort to bring back its captive soldiers and remove Hizbollah from the border area.

The crisis, which was aroused by Hizbollah's cross border raid and capture of two Israeli soldiers, has killed more than 300 Lebanese and 36 Israelis.