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Last update - 19:59 24/09/2008
Peres: Israel isn't willing to give Syria land in exchange for rocket fire
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Tzipi Livni, Syria 

President Shimon Peres on Wednesday told his Turkish counterpart President Abdullah Gul that Israel "is not willing to take painful steps and return territories in exchange for rocket fire," referring to peace negotiations between Israel and Syria.

The two heads of state met on the sidelines of the opening of the 63rdl United Nations General Assembly in New York. Turkey has been acting as a mediator in the recently relaunched indirect talks between Israel and Syria.

Peres reiterated to Gul that "the Israeli public wants to see with its own eyes that Syria has changed."
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During their meeting, the two also discussed the possibility of expanding the peace talks between Israel and Syria, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the Iranian threat. Gul told Peres that "Syria has serious intentions for peace with Israel" and that "the more the negotiations advance, the less doubts the Israeli side will have."

Gul went on to say that he hoped that the establishment of a new government in Israel will prompt "both sides to return to the negotiating table."

Earlier Wednesday, Syria's state-run daily Tishreen reported that Syrian officials believe that the newly elected Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni, who will be attempting over the next six weeks to put together a new government which she will lead, will stall the ongoing talks between Israel and Syria.

For the second time since Livni's victory over Shaul Mofaz in the Kadima primary, the paper's chief editor, Issam Dari, has devoted an article to sizing up the woman who will likely become Israel's next prime minister. Dari wrote that the initial signs of Livni continuing the peace process with Syria are not encouraging.

"The indications and the signs do not lead one to the assumption that the next prime minister will desire peace," Dari wrote. In his previous column, Dari wrote that peace can be achieved if Livni so desires. President Bashar Assad said on Tuesday that the indirect talks between the two sides "demand more time and effort." Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether Livni will push ahead with the talks if she succeeds in forming a coalition.

"Recently, we have seen those who are trying to whitewash Livni, who is charged with the task of forming a government, and to depict her as a moderate and someone who is acting to advance the peace process on both [the Syrian and Palestinian] tracks..." Dari wrote. "We know from the outset where Livni will go, what her policy is and what her plans are, and how far she is from the path of peace. These are axioms."

Diplomatic officials told Haaretz that Syrian officials are frustrated over the political turmoil in Israel and its impact on the negotiations.

"In Syria, one person can negotiate with Israel for decades without being replaced," said one source. "In Israel, the negotiators are replaced every so often, and none of them can reach any arrangement."

The fifth round of indirect talks between Israel and Syria had been postponed due to the resignation of Yoram Turbowicz, the former chief of staff in the prime minister's bureau who also led the Israeli negotiating team.

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      1.   Big deal! 15:00  |  Murray the Mongoose 24/09/08
      2.   Syria would dearly like us to be a dictatorship like them 15:01  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/09/08
      3.   Bus Assad "demands more time and effort." 15:39  |  David Plane 24/09/08
      4.   What peace? 16:14  |  george 24/09/08
      5.   The people of Israel are against giving away the Golan. 16:44  |  Jean Van Daem 24/09/08
      6.   JVD, 5, can`t have his stolen Golan cake and eat it in peace 18:14  |  Ivar 24/09/08
      7.   Exactly to what rocket fire ... 19:08  |  Axel 24/09/08
      8.   Peace with Syria not needed 19:47  |  Slappy 24/09/08
      9.   This is why honest elections are needed not Kadima BS 20:58  |  Kipperraes 24/09/08
      10.   Axel #7 21:02  |  Malone 24/09/08
      11.   # 10 malone 21:19  |  Axel 24/09/08
      12.   Israel 21:24  |  Paul 24/09/08
      13.   You are dictators 21:25  |  Paul 24/09/08
      14.   Golan is Israel 21:26  |  Silvio Akcelrud 24/09/08
      15.   #6 gee, you can cut and paste; you must be a genius 22:55  |  McQueen 24/09/08
      16.   Herr Axel its very simple 23:00  |  Golani 24/09/08
      17.   A leopard changing his spots? 23:03  |  Arie 24/09/08
      18.   The Golan 23:07  |  Jim Payne 24/09/08
      19.   Ivar - the Golan is part and parcel part of Israel 23:08  |  Arie 24/09/08
      20.   Axel-the answer is fairly obvious even for you 23:10  |  Arie 24/09/08
      21.   Golani, best to leave our dreamy Axel in the clouds 23:31  |  E.A 24/09/08
      22.   How thoughtful, maybe bashir will reciprocate 23:39  |  Helm of Chelm 24/09/08
      23.   Herr Golani 23:46  |  Axel 24/09/08
      24.   When Assad and Hezbollah Are No More 23:57  |  Ron 24/09/08
      25.   Give 00:03  |  Anthony 25/09/08
      26.   why not? 00:19  |  alan 25/09/08
      27.   Axel #20 00:24  |  Rolandus 25/09/08
      28.   # 17 arie 00:40  |  Axel 25/09/08
      29.   YOU ARE RIGHT PERES;ISRAEL IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE GOLAN FOR FIRE 01:01  |  glenna 25/09/08
      30.   Herr Axel the Stupid 01:22  |  Golani 25/09/08
      31.   Ivar has a new solution 01:39  |  peter 25/09/08
      32.   Syrian Peace negotitaions 01:56  |  jane rossi 25/09/08
      33.   Herr Golani 02:01  |  Axel 25/09/08
      34.   Herr Axel wrong again 02:38  |  Golani 25/09/08
      35.   Hilarious, Israel will not give up the Golan regardless 03:41  |  American in NY 25/09/08
      36.   Will someone explain to the senile citizen 03:54  |  Mark Lincoln 25/09/08
      37.   So Stop Doing It 04:10  |  UsedToPostHere 25/09/08
      38.   What "painful steps" would those be, Peres? 05:10  |  Johnboy 25/09/08
      39.   No To Golan Yes TO Peace 08:06  |  Baruch Gold 25/09/08
      40.   #35, #36 Quite right, guys... 08:33  |  Johnboy 25/09/08
      41.   #1 Murray the Mongoose.Ouch,ouch It hurts.. 02:38  |  Israeli 26/09/08
      42.   re: Johnboy 05:27  |  UsedToPostHere 26/09/08
      43.   #42 UsedToPostHere re:Johnboy ..I sent one in rsponse to his,But! 14:16  |  Israeli 26/09/08
      44.   Does Livni scare Syria Assad RIGHT ??? 08:06  |  M. S. 02/10/08
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