Jerusalem officials: Syria taking talks with Israel seriously - Haaretz

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Last update - 08:06 29/07/2008

Jerusalem officials: Syria taking talks with Israel seriously

By Shahar Ilan, Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern

Tags: syria, golan heights, israel

Senior officials in Jerusalem confirmed Monday that Syria has carried out a number of measures in recent weeks that reflect that it is taking talks with Israel seriously.

The sources refused to say whether they were referring to such measures as lowering the alert levels of the Syrian army or stemming the flow of arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon through its territory, but they did say that the effects of the measures were "tangible."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he was pleased with the measures and with the negotiations with Syria. He predicted that Israel's talks with Damascus will soon cause Syria to come into conflict with Hezbollah and Iran. Olmert said that when Syria reaches that crossroad it will have to decide which direction to pursue.

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"The Syrians will soon discover that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time," Olmert said, paraphrasing U.S. president Abraham Lincoln.

Olmert said that he expects Hezbollah to try and avenge the death of top figure Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in a bomb blast in February in Damascus that has been attributed to Israel.

Meanwhile, a Western source said Monday that Syria is interested in making as much progress as possible with Olmert so that his successor will be bound to whatever commitments he makes.

The sources in Jerusalem, meanwhile, said Syria is interested in having the U.S. or a European country mediate talks with Israel. France, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is considered a strong candidate for the role. Paris has improved its ties with Syria over the past few months and brought it out of international isolation. Syrian President Bashar Assad and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, discussed the matter at the Mediterranean summit earlier this month.

Olmert and Assad were in close proximity for much of the summit and at one point stood only meters away from one another. However, they never met or shook hands. Assad seemed determined not to make contact with Israel's prime minister.

"I knew Assad wouldn't want to be part of such a meeting," Olmert said. "We sent messages in advance that we did not intend to make contact during the summit. We thought such efforts would be artificial and unnecessary."

On the issue of finding a third party to mediate, sources say that Damascus may agree to direct negotiations. Talks are currently being held via indirect channels.

Meanwhile, Syria's Ambassador to the U.S., Imad Moustapha, Monday told the American branch of Peace Now that a peace deal with Israel, Syria and Lebanon was possible.

"Let's sit down, make peace and end this war status once and for all," Moustapha said. He later added that Israel had an opportunity to make peace with Lebanon at the same time.

Moustapha, a senior Syrian policymaker, is considered close to Assad. Also Monday, Haaretz learned that the U.S. State Department canceled a meeting with a visiting Syrian delegation in Washington last week because it was leaked to the press and because they believed the Syrians were behind the leak.

Related articles:

Public figures attempting Syria talks outside official track, says Olmert

Syria envoy to U.S.: Israel has chance for peace with all Arabs

Syria says determined to forge diplomatic ties with Lebanon

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1.	If Olmert Believes This He Is Even A Bigger Jackass	05:48	\|	Tod Zuckerman	29/07/08

2.	Let`s Get Serious	06:35	\|	Robert	29/07/08

3.	Even if Assad is sincere he will not be able to keep...	07:10	\|	Jean Van Daem	29/07/08

4.	Assad	07:22	\|	zznhl	29/07/08

5.	B.S. Galore	07:55	\|	Wally Shu	29/07/08

6.	Keep quiet Olmert, you are only a `lame duck PM`	07:58	\|	Dagma	29/07/08

7.	Shut up Please Olmert, remember your place	08:05	\|	Natasha	29/07/08

8.	Olmert is soon to be declared a `Lame Duck Prime Minister`	08:12	\|	Dolly	29/07/08

9.	to Robert #2 - right, Let`s Get Serious	08:21	\|	zeev	29/07/08

10.	Nothing for nothing	08:59	\|	Natallie Durson	29/07/08

11.	Israel should not "fool" herself, get serious, go Saudi Plan!!!	11:15	\|	Ivar	29/07/08

12.	Question: Have I missed reading or hearing Syria finally	11:18	\|	Yokheved Giladi	29/07/08

13.	Some peoples attitude	11:35	\|	matt	29/07/08

14.	After Arafat taking "Peace with Israel" seriously a new Guru of L	11:56	\|	Absolute Sweden	29/07/08

15.	ANY ISR-SYRIAN DEAL MUST BE BASED ON HATAY MODEL, NOT SINAI MODEL	12:30	\|	G Marcus	29/07/08

16.	Syria winks at Israel,sleeps with Iran	14:11	\|	Ronnie Wolman	29/07/08

17.	PM Olmert, do not give land back to your enemies	14:43	\|	banjo	29/07/08

18.	"Land For Peace" Dhimmitude Talks Must Not Survive The Next Elect	15:33	\|	Joseph.E	29/07/08

19.	golan more improtant than iran	15:38	\|	bashar	29/07/08

20.	SARKOZY IS NOBODY BUT A CLOWN	15:41	\|	indrajaya	29/07/08

21.	am i the only one who sees a storm coming in?	16:27	\|	chai	29/07/08

22.	Jerusalem officials: Syria taking talks with Israel seriously	17:30	\|	sb	29/07/08

23.	Peace is possible provided Golan stays Israeli	18:52	\|	Jeremy11	29/07/08

24.	It`s Iran, stupid.	19:21	\|	Fortuna Benmayor	29/07/08

25.	Ronnie, Syria doesn`t need Iran -	20:03	\|	ivo	29/07/08

26.	G MArcus - I don`t know what you men with Hatay model	20:40	\|	David Israel	29/07/08

27.	#1 Tod	21:44	\|	Warmapril	29/07/08

28.	Syria`s ambassador is wrong about Lebanon	01:52	\|	Conroy	30/07/08

29.	Natallie Durson-#10-Israel and Jew haters hate peace	02:27	\|	Daniel Leopold	30/07/08

30.	banjo #17 is right	02:29	\|	zeev	30/07/08

31.	Fortuna Benmayor-#24-The fear factor	04:45	\|	Daniel Leopold	30/07/08

32.	Syria talking seriously	04:53	\|	abraham cohen	30/07/08

33.	bashar -#19-your analysis is partly incorect	05:02	\|	Daniel Leopold	30/07/08

34.	to A.Cohen #32	09:43	\|	zeev	30/07/08

35.	to Daniel Leopold #33 - wrong analysis	10:54	\|	zeev	30/07/08

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