Mazuz: Transit gov't retains authority to conduct talks
Attorney general rejects appeal by Likud MK regarding ongoing negotiations with Syrian regime with general elections on horizon
This may be a transit government, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert still retains the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the State of Israel with the Syrian regime.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced on Sunday he would not intervene in the negotiations after MK Limor Livnat (Likud) demanded he do so.
Mazuz referred Livnat to a 2001 ruling by the High Court of Justice rejecting the possibility of imposing limitations on any transitional government.
Livnat approached Mazuz during the weekend following a report in the Yedioth Aharonoth daily asserting that Olmert recently dispatched a message to Damascus saying the Turkish-mediated talks could be
resumed despite his current status as a caretaker PM.
Shortly after Mazuz's announcement, Livnat said she would appeal to the High Court of Justice against his decision not to intervene.
Livnat said Mazuz's ruling had left her with no choice, and warned that allowing the current interim leadership to negotiate with Syria may bind the hands of the future government.
Livnat said she not believe such a government should have the capacity to negotiate with an enemy state.
