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Last update - 04:44 21/06/2009
Assad spurns Netanyahu offer to resume peace talks
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz COrrespondent
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected the offer of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a resumption of peace talks between the two countries from "point zero." Assad commented on Netanyahu's proposal during a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell they held in Damascus a week ago.

In talks with Mitchell, who had relayed Netanyahu's proposal, Assad requested that a direct line of communication be established between himself and President Barack Obama.

Mitchell had met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem about 10 days ago, and even though most of their meeting dealt with the Palestinian track, they also discussed the Syrian peace talks. Netanyahu told Mitchell he is interested in resuming the negotiations with Syria "without preconditions" and emphasized that "I am unwilling to commit in advance to a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights."
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A source familiar with the details of Mitchell's meetings in Jerusalem and Damascus told Haaretz the U.S. envoy relayed the message to Assad in their meeting a few days later.

The Syrian president rejected the Israeli proposal and stressed that Israel is well aware that the basis for talks is full withdrawal from the Golan Heights. Assad said the negotiations should resume from the point at which they stopped under former prime minister Ehud Olmert, in other words, from the point at which the two sides had planned to formulate mutual commitments that would enable the talks to move to a direct negotiations stage. The indirect negotiations stopped some six months ago, following Operation Cast Lead, and the announcement of early elections in Israel.

Assad told Mitchell he would like to resume the indirect negotiations through Turkish mediation, but the same source said Netanyahu had informed the American envoy that Israel is opposed to Ankara's role in mediations. Netanyahu explained Israel's opposition as a development of Turkey's stance during the offensive in the Gaza Strip in January.

Friday, the daily Yedioth Aharonoth reported that Netanyahu had relayed messages to Syria on his wish to resume negotiations, but also said he was opposed to a complete withdrawal from the Golan Heights. According to the report Netanyahu and his aides are considering a proposal to France to undertake mediation efforts.

Haaretz has learned that during his talks in Israel Mitchell was informed that Israel is willing to negotiate with Syria on a regional basis in talks that would also involve Jordan and Lebanon and would involve an exchange of territory that would enable Israel to continue to hold several points on the Golan Heights. According to a source, when Mitchell raised the Israeli proposal, "they fell back laughing."

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      1.   To: Israel, Force Syria To Fight For It 05:10  |  Dav Lev 21/06/09
      2.   whats to discuss? golan is stolen according to int Law 05:12  |  give it back 21/06/09
      3.   i told you so, AGAIN 05:32  |  VIPER 21/06/09
      4.   Assad wants all and or nothing RIGHT ??? 05:43  |  M. S. 21/06/09
      5.   Who cares about Syria anyway? 06:27  |  Malone 21/06/09
      6.   Of course--Syria isn`t interested in peace with Israel 07:54  |  IW 21/06/09
      7.   Same old tactics 08:11  |  Palestinian Brit 21/06/09
      8.   Is Syria a serious peace partner ? 08:16  |  Lane 21/06/09
      9.   Assad absolutely correct. Bravo! 08:32  |  Ivar 21/06/09
      10.   MS needs to pay attention 08:38  |  look here 21/06/09
      11.   Standing on non-existent dignity Assad 08:40  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 21/06/09
      12.   Golan Heights 09:01  |  DA 21/06/09
      13.   Short-sighted Assad plays into Bibi`s hands again 09:02  |  Joe Sittizen 21/06/09
      14.   Waste of time 09:55  |  Israeli Citizen 21/06/09
      15.   Look here, look better. Syria initiated its 67 war with Israel 11:04  |  Rob 21/06/09
      16.   Assad spurns Netanyahu offer 11:16  |  Bruria 21/06/09
      17.   if it aint broke done fix it & Israel needs the Golan not a treat 11:33  |  xz 21/06/09
      18.   he was opposed to a complete withdrawal from the Golan Heights. 11:53  |  Noura 21/06/09
      19.   #2. Syria tried to steal all the Jewish land times in a row... 12:26  |  pandora 21/06/09
      20.   #2, When you loose land after a war that you initiated... 14:24  |  Rafa 21/06/09
      21.   Assad rejection is obvious: He will be asked to recognize... 15:42  |  Amihai 21/06/09
      22.   Viper: It`s the Security ... 16:22  |  Jasper 21/06/09
      23.   Re: Give it Back #2 16:30  |  Jasper 21/06/09
      24.   wrong rafah!! you intiated it!! you are a liar and a theif 16:40  |  preemptive 21/06/09
      25.   An other good example of Arab arrogance 16:47  |  Daniel 21/06/09
      26.   President Assad`s approach is mistaken, should meet despite 16:54  |  Smadar 21/06/09
      27.   President Assad`s approach is mistaken, should meet despite 16:54  |  Smadar 21/06/09
      28.   Time to Choose 17:02  |  Israeli Citizen 21/06/09
      29.   zionist missing finanacial/political reality 17:25  |  try again 21/06/09
      30.   #11 Rob Part 1 17:27  |  Lou Medel 21/06/09
      31.   Peace for Peace!! 17:50  |  Dr eric 21/06/09
      32.   Syria does not hava nothing to offer for peace 18:14  |  cachanilla 21/06/09
      33.   To # 12, 28 and 30 19:08  |  Wile E Coyote 21/06/09
      34.   Not one inch of the Golan!! 19:18  |  dr eric 21/06/09
      35.   The Golan is 100% Israeli territory! 19:22  |  Dr Eric 21/06/09
      36.   The majority of Israelis do not support giving up the Golan! 19:25  |  Dr eric 21/06/09
      37.   preemtive 19:43  |  John 21/06/09
      38.   #30 Lou Medel "years before war" go back to 48. 20:47  |  Rob 21/06/09
      39.   Syria will get back the Golan 20:54  |  Five years observer 21/06/09
      40.   Obama/Clinton said it best 20:56  |  Christopher 21/06/09
      41.   Thank you, Wile E. Coyote 21:15  |  yona 21/06/09
      42.   The Golan 22:06  |  Five years observer 21/06/09
      43.   67 war 22:46  |  JoJo 21/06/09
      44.   My advice 01:20  |  Colin Wright 22/06/09
      45.   Golan is Syrian 02:21  |  BDS 22/06/09
      46.   Dav lev and blindness 03:32  |  Truth 22/06/09
      47.   assad has major problems 04:19  |  Arie 22/06/09
      48.   To Lou Medel (#30) - remember when? 06:06  |  Morris Valentine 22/06/09
      49.   #22, JASPER with the "security" lie again 06:52  |  VIPER 22/06/09
      50.   #34, DR ERIC, lives in the past 06:55  |  VIPER 22/06/09
      51.   Assad Missed His Peace Chance A Month Ago... 07:44  |  Yosemite 22/06/09
      52.   King Assad can only guarantee "peace" during his reign 08:14  |  Jason 22/06/09
      53.   Re: Wile E Coyote 05:20  |  Alan 29/06/09
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