Olmert's speech
Photo: GPO
Olmert: Peace with Syria feasible
Outgoing prime minister says accord would give Israel 'substantial advantages,' reduce Syrian ties with terror groups
A peace accord with Syria is "feasible" and can give Israel "substantial advantages," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday, during a speech at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies.
"The Turkish-led indirect talks with Syria are pivotal; they have proven that real negotiations are doable," the prime minister said.
According to negotiations...
Sources familiar with unofficial Israel-Syria talks says Damascus has drafted paper defining Golan Heights boundaries, waiting for Israeli reply through Turkish mediators. 'Document puts us on the water (of Lake Kinneret),' Syrian official says
"I sometimes hear censure of the peace process with Syria. There is the concern that Syria will continue its ties with Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran in the future. It is exactly in order to test these ties that we need to talk to Syria," he added.
Olmert is scheduled to visit Turkey this upcoming Monday and meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is serving as an indirect mediator in
talks between Israel and Syria.
The two leaders spoke on the telephone three times in the past two weeks about various issues related to Israel-Syria relations.
While Olmert is hoping to secure some sort of agreement before he leaves office in February, he will not be meeting with any Syrian representatives during his upcoming visit to Turkey.
However, Turkish sources recently received a document from Syria, defining the Syrian stance on borders in the Golan Heights. The Syrians are waiting for an Israeli response.
