WASHINGTON – New mediator in Israel
-Syria
negotiations? Syrian Ambassador to Washington Imad Moustapha has said that the United States must play a decisive role in the talks
between Israel and Syria.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal,
the envoy said that peace between Israel and Syria was attainable, but would require the United States' full commitment.
Syrian Source:
'Israel did not ask us to sever ties with Iran' / Roee Nahmias
Sources involved in indirect negotiations between Jerusalem, Damascus tells London-based newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat sides have agreed on temporary security arrangements until trust is built between them, says 'serious progress made in talks'
Damascus does not expect the current American administration to become involved in the talks until US President George W. Bush leaves the White House on January 20, 2009. Israeli and American sources estimate that Syria is entering the talks slowly in order to prepare the grounds for the arrival of a new US president.
Moustapha clarified in the interview that Damascus was ready for America's involvement in the talks with Israel regardless of the identity of the new White House leader.
Ramon opposes negotiations
Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Friday during a conference at the Washington Institute that he opposes negotiations with Syria.
According to Ramon, the Syrians will not sever their ties with Iran
or Hizbullah
for the sake of peace with Israel.
Controlling Lebanon
is more important to the Syrians than the Golan Heights, and Hizbullah is the Syrians' tie to Lebanon, he claimed.
"What we can offer the Syrians is not much as far as they are concerned," Ramon said.
The vice premier added that some of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's efforts to hold talks with Damascus were related to an attempt to prevent an escalation on the northern border.
He went on to say, however, that "Syria is incapable of launching a war against Israel, Israel is not interested in a war with Syria, and in any case the chances for war are low."
Meanwhile, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Friday of serious progress made in the Israel-Syria negotiations, quoting a Syrian source who said Jerusalem did not demand that Damascus cut its ties with Iran.
The Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported that the talks between the countries' representatives are expected to resume this Thursday.
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