Soliman, Liel and Gal-On head to the briefing
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Syrian guest to Knesset says secret negotiations needed
Ibrahim Soliman, a Syrian representative in previous, informal talks between Israel and Syria, briefs Knesset committee with Israeli counterpart
Israel and Syria should hold secret negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement, Ibrahim (Abe) Soliman told the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday.
Soliman, an American citizen of Syrian descent, came to Israel Tuesday, to hold informal talks, via a non-governmental movement for peace between the two nations. He briefed the Knesset committee along with former Israel Foreign Ministry director-general Dr Alon Liel.
Earlier interview
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Soliman, who had been involved in informal Israeli-Syrian talks in the past, thanked the committee for the opportunity to brief them. "I didn't envision in my wildest dreams that I'd be talking to important decision makers among the Jewish people. Syria and Israel missed many opportunities to make peace in the past," he said.
Soliman added that he had participated, of his own accord, in informal talks with Israel, although he did report the proceedings to the Syrian leadership in Damascus.
"I believe that only secret negotiations between Israel and Syria, far away from the eyes of the media, will lead to peace," he said.
Upon leaving the briefing, Soliman said, "I'm very glad I came. I hope that both sides will begin to meet and we, as a private channel, will disappear. My presence here makes everything possible."
Knesset members respond
Knesset Member Yisrael Katz (Likud) said that he'd asked Soliman to tell Syrian President Bashar Assad that Israel will not withdraw from the Golan Heights under any circumstances."In the past, I got 61 Knesset members to sign a petition against withdrawal from the Golan and there is a clear majority for this in the Knesset. It's important for Assad to know this," he told reporters following the briefing.
Katz also asked Soliman to tell Assad that, in the event that Syria attacked Israel, "any subsequent territory conquered by Israel, would remain in Israeli hands."
In contrast, MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz), who had initiated the Knesset briefing, said, "In a peace agreement, Syria would agree to stop supporting terror against us and cut ties with Hizbullah, and would demand that we return to 1967 borders in the Golan Heights."
She said the briefing "was a huge step, especially because it returns the Syrian option to public discourse. It's important that the Knesset committee hear of the informal understandings between Syria and Dr Alon Liel.
"It's important that Israel begin formal talks with Syria. It's a clear Israel interest to begin negotiations with Damascus and, by doing so, remove it from the Axis of Evil and isolate it from Iran," Gal-On continued.
Wednesday, Soliman visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial as part of his visit to Israel. "It's hard to think of so many people being murdered in such a short time…I pray for a peace that will help prevent such atrocities," he said.
