WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Israel and Syria reveal peace talks in Turkey
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-22 10:09 Others wondered aloud if the announcement was not timed to divert attention from Olmert's troubles with the police. They will interview him for a second time on Friday over suspicions he took bribes from an American businessman. He denies it. A snap Israeli television poll found 70 percent of people opposed giving back the Golan, and a majority also believing Olmert was using the talks to distract from domestic problems. US caution White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Washington was not surprised by the announcement: "We hope that this is a forum to address various concerns we all have with Syria -- Syria's support of terrorism, repression of its own people." Syrian officials said last month they were working with the Turks with a view to relaunching talks with Israel. Israeli government officials said discussions on reopening dialogue with Turkish mediation had begun last year. Turkish officials said the talks were likely to continue in rounds lasting several days, once or twice a month. Two Olmert aides returned to Israel on Wednesday after two days in Turkey. Israeli officials pledged that a peace process with Syria would not come at the expense of statehood talks with the Palestinians that Washington hopes can achieve a deal this year. In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: "We hope that the two parties will reach a peaceful solution." Olmert has said he is willing to discuss handing back the Golan Heights to Syria in return for Damascus severing ties with Iran and guerrilla movements hostile to Israel, notably Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Many analysts believe full-blown negotiations will only make progress with active US involvement, since only Washington can offer Damascus the economic and diplomatic rewards it would seek in return for shifting its alliances away from Iran. "The current US administration is very hostile to the Syrian regime. Probably you still need the next administration to come to office for this effort to come near completion," said Ezzedine Choukri-Fishere of the International Crisis Group. |
