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  "I don't think this has any diplomatic importance," Katsav told Israel's Channel Two television. "We are cultured people and say hello nicely and shake hands, but I don't think our differences have disappeared."

Nonetheless, the handshakes represented a small breakthrough. Peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000 and relations have grown increasingly hostile since then, and Israel accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism and possibly targeting the Jewish state with nuclear weapons.

"There is no doubt that this is a precedent, it was a historic moment and unique opportunity," Katsav's spokeswoman, Hagit Cohen, said.

Katsav, whose position is largely ceremonial, also was embraced by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Cohen said. Israel does not have relations with any of the countries.

The gestures were among several chance encounters as nearly 200 world leaders and other dignitaries gathered in front of the marble facade of St. Peter's Basilica for the funeral, seated alphabetically according to the names of their countries in French, the language of diplomacy.

The seating order took on special significance toward the end of the Mass when congregants were asked to greet each other in a Catholic tradition known as the "sign of peace."

Britain's Prince Charles, for example, took the outstretched hand of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, widely criticized for rights abuses, although his office later stressed he considers Mugabe's regime "abhorrent."

French President Jacques Chirac, who led the opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, also shook hands with President Bush — of the Etats-Unis — and bowed to kiss the hand of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who smiled broadly.

Katsav said he first shook hands with Assad after turning to greet the nearby Swiss leader. "The Syrian president also stood there. We exchanged smiles and shook hands," Katsav told the Web site of the Maariv daily.

He said a second handshake occurred during Christian prayers when Assad "extended his hand to me and we again shook hands."

Syria confirmed the handshake on Friday but downplayed its significance.

"It came in the framework of a casual situation and does not have any political connotation," Syria's official news agency quoted an unnamed Syrian media official as saying.

Iranian officials declined to discuss the reported encounter between Katsav, who was born in central Iran, and Khatami. The Iranian leader greeted Assad with kisses on both cheeks.

Katsav, who decided at the last minute to attend the funeral and upgrade Israel's representation, said that as he was leaving, "the Iranian president held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and greeted him in Farsi."

The men, who are roughly the same age, conversed about Yazd, the region where they were born, he told the television station.

Israel accuses Syria and Iran of backing Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Vatican officials, meanwhile, said they were satisfied at the mix of princes and presidents, saying the dignitaries clearly felt comfortable in a nonpolitical atmosphere.

Prince Charles and Mugabe were another unlikely pair to exchange a handshake and the move drew criticism from European Union legislators.

The prince, who had to delay his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles by a day to attend the funeral, was seated one place away from the 81-year-old African leader.

Charles was "caught by surprise" when Mugabe leaned over to offer his hand, a spokesman for the prince said, adding that the heir to the British throne finds Mugabe's regime "abhorrent." Charles' office said the incident apparently came during the peace exchange.

Mugabe was able to attend the funeral because an EU travel ban does not apply to the Vatican.

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