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Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, right, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni shaking hands prior to talks at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (AP)
Last update - 05:07 16/04/2007
Bill Clinton: Israel-Syria peace deal could be reached within 35 minutes
By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and AP

A peace agreement between Israel and Syria could be reached within 35 minutes, former U.S. president Bill Clinton told the Lebanon-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in an interview published Sunday.

Clinton said Israel and Syria were very close to reaching an agreement in 1998, adding that an accord could be reached assuming Iran does not play a role in the issue.

The former U.S. president also said that, in his opinion, the 1995 assassination of then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin led to the failure of the peace process.
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"[Former Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser] Arafat really trusted Rabin, and the assassination of Rabin killed the peace process," he said.

Clinton told the newspaper that secret negotiations, like those conducted in Oslo that led to the 1993 Declaration of Principles between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, are the only way through which to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

Russian official: Syria-Israel tensions might escalate into war
Russian National Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov warned during a visit to Israel last week that the tense cease-fire between Jerusalem and Damascus might escalate into war if the two parties mutually miscalculate their strength.

Ivanov raised the issue during his visit to Israel as part of a delegation of Russian officials here to engage in strategic discussions with Israeli officials.

Israeli National Security Council Head Ilan Mizrahi responded by saying that the fact that Russia was supplying Syria with modern weapons and missiles might encourage it to miscalculate its strength. Mizrahi added that delivering weapons to Syria would also undermine regional stability.

Ivanov replied that Russia was supplying both Iran and Syria with defensive weapon systems only. He went on to tell the Israeli delegation that Syrian President Bashar Assad was genuinely interested in negotiating a peace agreement with Israel.

"As I told you in November, you will find a partner in Assad," he said, adding that Russia supported the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

As for the Iranian nuclear program, Ivanov said Russia would not allow the Islamic republic to arm itself with nuclear weapons. "A nuclear Iran would threaten Russia, too," he said.

Ivanov reiterated this statement during his meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The danger attached to the Iranian nuclear program must not be downplayed, "but it should not be exaggerated either," Ivanov said.

He added that diplomatic talks to resolve the crisis revolving the Iranian nuclear effort have not been exhausted, and that there was "still much to be done in that respect." Ivanov also relayed Russia's apprehensions regarding a possible joint American-Israeli military strike against Iran.

Several members of the Israeli delegation disagreed with the assessments of their Russian counterparts regarding the issue.

Regarding Moscow's connection with Hamas, Ivanov said Russia's balanced stance on the Middle East enabled it to serve as an acceptable mediator for all parties. Ivanov added that Russia was interested in assisting the government of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

The delegation included high-ranking officers. In addition to Ivanov and other Russian Security Council members, the deputy chief of the Russian intelligence service and his counterpart in the Russian internal security intelligence organization were there. In addition, it included the Russian foreign ministry's Middle East department head and a defense ministry department head. The Russian delegation communicated with the Israeli hosts through two interpreters from Russia who spoke fluent Hebrew.

The Russian delegation met with representatives of the Mossad, the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Corps and other defense establishment officials.

Among the other officials present were delegates from the defense and foreign ministries and the Israel Atomic Energy Commission. The discussions between the Israeli and Russian delegations lasted two days. The parties have agreed to hold another session in the future, scheduled to take place in Moscow.

On Saturday, Syria distanced itself Saturday from comments by a Syrian-American businessman who recently told Knesset members that President Bashar Assad was ready to make peace with Israel.

Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal told state television that the comments of the businessman, Ibrahim Suleiman, express his personal point of view, and Syria has nothing to do with this visit or statements.

In an unprecedented appearance before an Israeli parliamentary panel on Thursday, Suleiman said he had high-level contacts with officials in Damascus.

Although he said he did not speak for the Syrian government, he predicted that Israel and Syria could strike a peace deal within six months if they were to resume talks.

"Syria right now is ready to speak peace. I challenged the Israeli government to answer President Bashar's call for peace and sit down together," Suleiman said.

Bilal said Syria was keen to reach a peace settlement, but in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab peace initiative - which call for Israel to withdraw completely from territory occupied in the 1967 and 1973 wars
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  1.   Interesting contradiction 05:38  |  Joseph 15/04/07
  2.   Instead of accusing Ivanov, ... 06:03  |  Michael Steiner 15/04/07
  3.   Ahmadinejad wants a war between Israel and her neighbors 06:41  |  Vittorio 15/04/07
  4.   ISRAEL WILL INITIATE THE WAR 07:22  |  indrajaya 15/04/07
  5.   Selling madmen a guns, but without bullets 07:35  |  Adam 15/04/07
  6.   How many Signs!! 08:05  |  An Arab Neighbor 15/04/07
  7.   Interesting contradiction 08:24  |  Andrea 15/04/07
  8.   Russians expertise 08:47  |  S 15/04/07
  9.   Israel doesn`t initiate wars 09:02  |  Jerusalem Shmuel 15/04/07
  10.   # 6 Israel genuinely wants piece 09:10  |  Adel 15/04/07
  11.   #9 Jerusalem Shmuel 10:06  |  Johnboy 15/04/07
  12.   coward Syria 10:26  |  ed 15/04/07
  13.   However Johnboy`s selective defintion of a casus belli involves 11:13  |  Leo 15/04/07
  14.   Russia, please tell us 11:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/04/07
  15.   Syria wants the Golan, but does it want peace? 11:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/04/07
  16.   Peace with the Arab world? 12:26  |  David Nigel Braham 15/04/07
  17.   to an arab neighbor 12:36  |  the pope 15/04/07
  18.   Two Faced Syria 13:47  |  Dyinglikeflies 15/04/07
  19.   another innocent Israeli 14:29  |  Elias 15/04/07
  20.   #15 Cipora makes an assumption 14:31  |  Johnboy 15/04/07
  21.   Cipora Julianna Kohn please tell us..... 15:03  |  Deborah 15/04/07
  22.   Johnboy #11 15:10  |  S 15/04/07
  23.   golani 15:21  |  idf 15/04/07
  24.   PERFECT RUSSIAN BEHAVIOUR 15:46  |  Brant 15/04/07
  25.   #22 S, come now....open those eyes 16:15  |  Johnboy 15/04/07
  26.   Johnboy #25 16:48  |  S 15/04/07
  27.   JOHNBOY IS MAKING ME ANTI-SEMANTIC! 16:52  |  Brant 15/04/07
  28.   To Ed about cowards 16:52  |  Mark B. 15/04/07
  29.   iran problem 17:09  |  arabian night 15/04/07
  30.   #26 S 18:28  |  Johnboy 15/04/07
  31.   Joseph, no contradiction 18:41  |  Bernie 15/04/07
  32.   Good post Michael Steiner 18:43  |  Bernie 15/04/07
  33.   Good post Michael Steiner 18:47  |  Bernie 15/04/07
  34.   Who Started the 67 War 18:54  |  Bernie 15/04/07
  35.   WRONG BILLYBOY - SURRENDER ONLY TAKES 1 SECOND 18:59  |  Ben 15/04/07
  36.   JOHNBOY: What is the Purpose of Provocation? 19:04  |  Alicia 15/04/07
  37.   Why not? 19:15  |  Gina 15/04/07
  38.   Negotiation with whom? 19:17  |  Melinda Lehan 15/04/07
  39.   RUSSIAN DOUBLE STANDARDS!!! 19:22  |  alonitzafoni 15/04/07
  40.   With all due respect to #38... 19:25  |  Dyinglikeflies 15/04/07
  41.   #6: How Many Signs for Syrian Peace? 19:30  |  Tex 15/04/07
  42.   Steiner (#2), little remarks 19:34  |  christoph 15/04/07
  43.   Putin, a Russian Janus and anti semite typical of Russian policy 19:37  |  Steve 15/04/07
  44.   Clinton admits Rabin was Arafat`s accomplice 19:42  |  Absolute Sweden 15/04/07
  45.   Peace or Piece? 19:46  |  Leg 15/04/07
  46.   Johnboy #30 19:49  |  S 15/04/07
  47.   An Arab Neighbor 19:52  |  dzone 15/04/07
  48.   Sit and wait? 20:00  |  Leg 15/04/07
  49.   John boy we are not making assumptions 20:02  |  Aby 15/04/07
  50.   Clinton 20:03  |  Brod 15/04/07
  51.   Clinton go back to your library 20:16  |  michel 15/04/07
  52.   The 35 minute peace deal 20:21  |  ottomatik 15/04/07
  53.   Peace Deal 20:21  |  Truth 15/04/07
  54.   JOHNBOY is proving that Arab-bullying is juridically justifiable 20:23  |  Alicia 15/04/07
  55.   FOOTING THE BILL 20:26  |  steve 15/04/07
  56.   Israel can think for Himself! No need to ask Am to do it for Him. 20:32  |  Alicia 15/04/07
  57.   Clinton had 8 years! 20:37  |  Jon 15/04/07
  58.   Steve #55 20:52  |  Brod 15/04/07
  59.   arafat trusted rabin 20:55  |  alon 15/04/07
  60.   35 minutes? Hahahaha. What drugs are these people on? 20:55  |  Gili 15/04/07
  61.   Peace with Syria 21:03  |  Joe 15/04/07
  62.   Amazing, especially from him 21:21  |  Chick Corea 15/04/07
  63.   President Clinton Puhleeze! 21:28  |  Rose 15/04/07
  64.   Billy Boy 21:34  |  Sheldon 15/04/07
  65.   Mutually Assured Destruction 21:45  |  Max 15/04/07
  66.   Clinton - More BS by a Highly Paid Gulf States Lobbyist 21:49  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/04/07
  67.   Clinton, the man who didn`t have sex with that woman. LOL 21:59  |  Avraham 15/04/07
  68.   Maybe Bill should stop listening his ambitious wife! 22:07  |  dzone 15/04/07
  69.   CLINTON AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT NOT 22:17  |  paul harris 15/04/07
  70.   Peace with the Arabs? 22:39  |  Murray of Montreal 15/04/07
  71.   #69 22:44  |  Hillary C 15/04/07
  72.   #20, johnnyboy 22:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/04/07
  73.   35mins. Why so long Bill? 23:09  |  Ari ben Yisrael 15/04/07
  74.   Russia, dealer to the rich and infamous 23:13  |  Jason 15/04/07
  75.   Bill v Hillary who can make Israel surender to arab demands first 23:23  |  zionist forever 15/04/07
  76.   This Time, He DID Inhale 23:39  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/04/07
  77.   clinton, Putin, Assad all want to run the region 23:45  |  zionist forever 15/04/07
  78.   Syria may go to war 23:45  |  Tosefta 15/04/07
  79.   First peace, then Land 23:54  |  FOX 15/04/07
  80.   Reply to Paul Harris (Post No. 69) 00:11  |  Johnny Weintraub 16/04/07
  81.   Clinton is correct 00:28  |  yuval 16/04/07
  82.   Clinton,Arafat,Rabin and Peace 00:31  |  Connie 16/04/07
  83.   israel not interested in peace 00:51  |  Ivan 16/04/07
  84.   secret negotiations are the only way Bill say 01:03  |  Joseph E . 16/04/07
  85.   #36 Alicia asks "what is the purpose of provocation?" 01:30  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  86.   #49 Aby makes some assumptions 01:36  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  87.   Can tell Clinton was Tony Blairs friend 01:38  |  zionist forever 16/04/07
  88.   #46 Such a wonderfully zionist attitude, S 01:45  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  89.   #54 Alicia says, yeah...but.. but... but 01:50  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  90.   #14 CIPORA US please tell us 01:55  |  Oetis 16/04/07
  91.   35 minutes but not 34? 02:13  |  time angel 16/04/07
  92.   bill clinton 02:34  |  Shmuelshachor 16/04/07
  93.   #30, johnnyboy 02:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/04/07
  94.   #87 Oetis, my question was addressed to Russia, not you 02:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/04/07
  95.   #93 Cipora, you really need to brush up on law 03:18  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  96.   #46 Penny not dropped yet, S? 03:33  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  97.   Reply to Yuval (Post No. 81) 03:41  |  Johnny Weintraub 16/04/07
  98.   #31 Bernie - Strelets system test using Israeli live targets 04:30  |  Pablo B 16/04/07
  99.   #97 DeMilitarization 05:01  |  yuval 16/04/07
  100.   Bill Clinton: Israel-Syria peace deal 06:27  |  Dayne Walker 16/04/07
  101.   Bill Clinton: Israel-Syria peace deal 06:36  |  Joe Smith 16/04/07
  102.   BRAVO CLINTON, THANK FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE 08:18  |  Indrajaya 16/04/07
  103.   Johnboy #96 10:09  |  S 16/04/07
  104.   # 85 Shugran Johnboy; you answered my question ! 11:35  |  Alicia 16/04/07
  105.   # 89 Yes, Israel does it all the time.... 11:40  |  Hypocrite 16/04/07
  106.   #103 S... must stand for Spin, Spin, Spin. 11:49  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  107.   # 95 The Ottoman Empire was an Occupying Power of 11:50  |  Alicia 16/04/07
  108.   BILL CLINTON AND SYRIA 11:53  |  SAM 16/04/07
  109.   #107 Read the thread, Alicia 14:35  |  Johnboy 16/04/07
  110.   #28 People in the E U... 16:03  |  John Allen 16/04/07
  111.   #63 Thank you.. 16:16  |  John Allen 16/04/07
  112.   #81 Exiled... 16:27  |  John Allen 16/04/07
  113.   #20 Johnboy - There you go 01:26  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  114.   #88-1 Johnboy`s attempting to deceive AGAIN 01:54  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  115.   #88-2 Johnboy`s attempted deception `73 war 01:58  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  116.   NOTICE TO AND ALL - IGNORE JOHNBOY`S BS 02:05  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  117.   NOTICE TO AND ALL - IGNORE JOHNBOY`S BS 02:05  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  118.   Don`t believe Clinton 02:08  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07
  119.   Clinton lies again 02:18  |  Kurt 17/04/07
  120.   "SLICK WILLY" aka/ Bill Clinton 02:33  |  * BEN JABO 18/04/07
  121.   #113 *BEN JABO repeats the tired old refrain 09:36  |  Johnboy 21/04/07
  122.   #9, JERUSALEM SHMUEL, what a load of BS 08:49  |  VIPER 11/12/07
  123.   #15, CPK, at it once again 08:56  |  VIPER 11/12/07
  124.   #93, CPK, more and more lies 09:03  |  VIPER 11/12/07
  125.   #103, S, JOHNBOY is correct in what he states 09:08  |  VIPER 11/12/07
  126.   #2,Mr.Steiner...thank you 23:53  |  Wise Syrian 14/02/08
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