Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 26, 2007 Kislev 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:33 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

U.S. President George W. Bush shaking hands with former U.S. secretary of state James Baker after receiving the official Iraq Study Group report in Washington on Wednesday. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 21:19 07/12/2006 Olmert rejects talks with Syria, says conditions are 'not ripe' By Shmuel Rosner, Akiva Eldar and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that conditions were not ripe to reopen talks with Syria, adding that he received no indications from U.S. President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Washington that the U.S. would push Israel to start such talks. Olmert also rejected linkage of the Iraqi war with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the Iraq Study Group, a day after the bipartisan commission issued its comprehensive report on the Iraq War. Advertisement "The attempt to create linkage between the Iraqi issue and the Mideast issue - we have a different view," Olmert told reporters in Tel Aviv, in his first response to the report issued Wednesday by the Iraq Study Group. One of the major conclusions of the study group is that the United States is unable to achieve its goals in the Middle East without direct involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The bipartisan panel is recommending that talks involving Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians are held within a "Madrid Conference framework," referring to the 1991 summit convened by then U.S. president George H.W. Bush, in the wake of the 1991 Gulf War, which triggered the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Syrian President Bashar Assad has called in recent months for a new round of talks with Israel, but Olmert has rejected them out of hand. "The question of what Israel can offer Syria has been raised before. The question is, what can we get from the Syrians if [we] enter negotiations," the prime minister said. He said, however, that Israel wants "with all our might" to restart peace talks with the Palestinians. He rejected suggestions that Israel's recent cease-fire with Palestinian militants in Gaza would simply allow the militants to rearm and regroup for another round of fighting, saying that Israel would not allow that to happen. He said that despite occasional rocket attacks by Gaza militants at Israel, "we will continue to show restraint." The prime minister also welcomed a peace initiative put forward by Saudi Arabia, saying it contains "interesting elements that should not be ignored." Addressing the controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Olmert reiterated Israel's position that it will not tolerate a nuclear Iran, but will not take unilateral action, preferring that the dispute should be settled by the international community as a whole. He also reiterated his support for the U.S. war in Iraq, a position that caused some controversy during his U.S. trip last month. "We always felt, like other nations in our region, that the removal of Saddam Hussein was a major, major contribution to stability of our part of the world," he said. Olmert's office said Wednesday that it is unlikely that Bush would alter his Middle East policy with regard to Israel, despite the recommendations of the bipartisan advisory panel, headed by former secretary of state James Baker and former Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton. Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said Wednesday night that Olmert is not unduly concerned with the report because in his recent meeting with Bush at the White House, he was promised that the U.S. would not divert from the principles of its policy in dealing with terrorist groups and in countering the Iranian nuclear program. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, however, welcomed the U.S. commission's call for a comprehensive peace. "We welcome this report and we hope the U.S. administration will translate it into deeds. Our region needs peace and dialogue," Erekat said Thursday. The committee presented its report to Bush on Wednesday, offering recommendations on policy regarding the quagmire in Iraq. The main recommendations of the report deal with U.S. policy in Iraq, and call for shifting the primary role of American forces there from fighting to training the Iraqi military. The panel also recommends diminishing the number of American soldiers deployed in Iraq. The report described the situation in Iraq as "dire" and "deteriorating." In relation to Israel, the Baker-Hamilton panel is recommending talks along two main axes: Syria-Lebanon and the Palestinians. The committee sets the conditions Damascus must fulfill to be considered an effective interlocutor, some of which are similar to those posed by the Bush administration to the Assad regime in exchange for dialogue. The U.S. continues to demand that Syria avoid interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs; that it cooperate in the investigation of the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri; that it cease all assistance to Hezbollah and undertake efforts to persuade Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist. At the same time, the panel concludes that Israel must return the Golan Heights to Syria as part of a peace treaty, and says that in exchange Israel will be granted security guarantees from the United States on this front. Regarding the Palestinians, the Baker-Hamilton report concludes that talks on a final settlement should be held, so that a two-state solution in line with Bush's ideas can be achieved. The committee also urged the Bush administration to give its full backing to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and to try and further talks on the creation of a Palestinian national unity government. The panel briefly touched on the question of the Iranian nuclear program, and its main recommendation is that the issue should continue to be handled by the United Nations Security Council. It also suggests that efforts should be made to convince Iran to contribute to the stabilization of the situation in Iraq through regional support groups - which the Baker-Hamilton panel suggests should be set up. Responding to the bipartisan panel's mention of Syria and talks with Israel, the official Syrian news agency, SANA, focused on the Golan Heights issue in its reports Wednesday. The news agency highlighted the group's recommendation that the U.S. administration press Israel to restore the Golan Heights to Syria as part of a peace agreement. Syria's Vice President Farouk al-Shara said Wednesday that Damascus is interested in a peace process that will restore the Golan Heights to Syria "all the way back to the lines of 4 June, 1967. "A peace process that will not achieve this goal is unacceptable," the Syrian official said. Al-Shara also said that both Iran and Syria should be involved in solving the crisis in Iraq, in response to the Baker-Hamilton report's recommendation that Tehran and Damascus should be engaged to contribute toward stabilizing Iraq. Bookmark to del.icio.us Virtual diplomacy Peres Center to distribute computer game simulating the peace process. Size does matter A giant Israeli flag at Masada breaks world record for largest in world.   1.   Baker is an idiot, becouse Golan never belonged to Syria 03:28  |  Law and Order 07/12/06   2.   Baker "F#ck the Jews!" has a plan 04:02  |  Ilan 07/12/06   3.   TO #1 04:14  |  Bibi 07/12/06   4.   We are only setting Syria and Iran up! 04:23  |  Michael M. 07/12/06   5.   BAKER DOES THE SAUDI`S WORK ALWAYS 04:30  |  ray 07/12/06   6.   #1 Baker is clearly not and idiot, and also not a religious nut. 04:51  |  Johnboy 07/12/06   7.   Baker report urges Madrid-style summit with Israel, Syria and PA 04:56  |  alex 07/12/06   8.   Response to IIan. 05:02  |  Michael M. 07/12/06   9.   Osama`s Litttle Helper 05:19  |  Johnny 07/12/06   10.   IT IS "GRAVE" NOT "DIRE" 05:22  |  indrajaya 07/12/06   11.   Ummmm 05:25  |  Trevor 07/12/06   12.   Ummmm 05:28  |  Trevor 07/12/06   13.   Never exchange land for security guarantees, even from us 05:42  |  Bob 07/12/06   14.   Baker is a "diplomat" Just wait until you see 05:52  |  spyguy 07/12/06   15.   BAKER IS DREAMING 05:56  |  indrajaya 07/12/06   16.   Johnboy 06:02  |  Reid 07/12/06   17.   failed, sell out wheeler-dealer. no depth 06:08  |  ralph 07/12/06   18.   The Golan 06:12  |  Ruth Broch 07/12/06   19.   News Flash: Israel Does Not Want Peace! 06:16  |  Roger 07/12/06   20.   This plan has the smell of 2002 Saudia deceiptive initiative 06:22  |  Joseph E . 07/12/06   21.   #7: dont apologize for US policy!! 06:31  |  concerned 07/12/06   22.   #1: its people like you who get us killed 06:39  |  concerned 07/12/06   23.   Ilan in Ariel (Post No. 2) 06:40  |  Johnny Weintraub 07/12/06   24.   Nato Security -Wishful Thinking 06:45  |  Yosie K. 07/12/06   25.   # 13 spyguy @ san francisco / usa 07:11  |  Joseph E . 07/12/06   26.   # 21, CONCERNED 07:13  |  indrajaya 07/12/06   27.   #7 I don`t hold you personally responsible 07:37  |  Ilan 07/12/06   28.   The game is up 07:56  |  jj burke 07/12/06   29.   Bush Policy: Why change it when it is failing so well! 09:07  |  Mark Kienan 07/12/06   30.   #29, Mark Kienan on Israeli Political Cleverness 09:35  |  Fritz 07/12/06   31.   Quacking like a lame duck 09:37  |  Natallie Durson 07/12/06   32.   Israel needs Syrian water 10:14  |  Clickfool 07/12/06   33.   Israeli politicians and their unbelievable "talent".... 10:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/12/06   34.   # 29, MARK KEINAN 10:33  |  indrajaya 07/12/06   35.   Olmert is lying through his teeth 10:53  |  Freddy 07/12/06   36.   If PMO says no u-turn, expect changes soon 10:55  |  Michael 07/12/06   37.   18 Ruth BRoch 11:04  |  Hadrian 07/12/06   38.   Baker`s Leftist Success Formula for Peace 11:24  |  Klaudia 07/12/06   39.   YOU CANT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS 11:53  |  paul harris 07/12/06   40.   # 38 Klaudia - Baker`s LeftistSuccess...... 11:59  |  tbora 07/12/06   41.   AIPAC WON`T ALLOW ANY CHANGE 12:00  |  Observer 07/12/06   42.   Bashing Baker 12:16  |  Darwish 07/12/06   43.   # 38 Klaudia 12:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/12/06   44.   My friend the wind... 12:20  |  Skandar 07/12/06   45.   Munich II is being prepared by Baker 12:25  |  Jonathan S 07/12/06   46.   Denial is not a river in Egypt 12:40  |  Michael 07/12/06   47.   # 40 - tbora ,sorry if you misunderstood 12:54  |  Klaudia 07/12/06   48.   I predicted shortly after 9/11 that the US will 13:05  |  Boris 07/12/06   49.   the PM is right 13:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/12/06   50.   #38 Klaudia makes a comparison 13:10  |  Johnboy 07/12/06   51.   A brief lesson in regional politics 13:11  |  Natallie Durson 07/12/06   52.   Olmert dithers again 13:11  |  sh 07/12/06   53.   #38 Klaudia doesn`t like leftist policies 13:12  |  Johnboy 07/12/06   54.   To the religious nuts 13:16  |  Georges 07/12/06   55.   Jewish Lobby 13:21  |  Georges 07/12/06   56.   All comments are not objective 13:23  |  Hamish 07/12/06   57.   Spyguy: Deal or No Deal 13:28  |  Raw deal 07/12/06   58.   There is an indirect Link 13:35  |  Palestinian 07/12/06   59.   BAKER WAS ALWAYS AN IDIOT, SIDING WITH THE ENIMY 13:39  |  Honey Church 07/12/06   60.   No change should be expected 13:44  |  Isratenian 07/12/06   61.   Indeed, since the Iraqi war is unrelated to the local conflict 13:48  |  Nadav 07/12/06   62.   SYRIA MUST GIVE UP SOME LAND FOR PEACE 13:49  |  Logic for Peace 07/12/06   63.   Middle East peace conference without Israel 13:54  |  GPWS.1 07/12/06   64.   Clickfool # 32 13:58  |  Victor Smolinsky 07/12/06   65.   Israel needs to withdraw, regardless of Iraq 14:03  |  Jens 07/12/06   66.   #41 Observer 14:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/12/06   67.   That Johnboy is why Baker is loathed in Israel #6 14:22  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/12/06   68.   “Water” cannot hold water #88 14:24  |  Jonathan S 07/12/06   69.   BLAIR`S linkage 14:35  |  Ian 07/12/06   70.   Mr. James Baker 14:36  |  Rani -- Egypt 07/12/06   71.   20-Hamas & Fatah, Iran, Syria want to Destroy Israel 14:36  |  Bruriah Sarah 07/12/06   72.   Sullivan 14:40  |  Come on 07/12/06   73.   41 - No - Hamas et al want to destroy Israel 14:40  |  Bruriah Sarah 07/12/06   74.   Georges in Beruit #55 14:40  |  CHGODMK 07/12/06   75.   Baker is a fool and hostile to Israel 14:40  |  Semsem 07/12/06   76.   54 - So what are you telling us? 14:42  |  Bruriah Sarah 07/12/06   77.   Palestine and Israel 14:43  |  Rani -- Egypt 07/12/06   78.