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Syrian President Bashar Assad welcoming U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Damascus earlier this month. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 03:59 23/05/2007 U.S. envoy denies pressure on Israel not to engage in talks with Syria By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and The Associated Press The U.S. ambassador to Israel reiterated Monday that Washington has not been pressuring Israel to rebuff Syrian offers of peace talks, denying a Haaretz report that the Americans have withdrawn their opposition to negotiations between Israel and Syria. "Do American and Israeli foreign policies differ on Syria? Does the United States stop Israel starting peace discussions with Syria? No. No," Ambassador Richard Jones told a conference at Bar Ilan on Monday. "Israel is not negotiating with Syria because Israel doesn't trust Syria anymore than the United States does," he added. Advertisement Jones told Haaretz earlier Monday that he had first heard of the policy change when he read in the newspaper that morning. Jones, who previously maintained that the U.S. had no say regarding Israeli talks with Syria, said that he had been surprised by the report Monday. Jones said that while the United States keeps a close eye on Syrian activity and is working to step up implementation of a United Nations arms embargo against Hezbollah, it sees no immediate Syrian military threat to Israel. "We certainly would view a buildup of force in Syria as a source of concern," he said. "In this regard I would stress our commitment to the qualitative military edge for Israel." U.S. policy turnabout may enable Israel to enter talks with Syria Washington has given Israel the green light to accept Syrian President Bashar Assad's call for peace talks, in a change of position accompanied by several preconditions. The Bush administration has given Israel permission to discuss the future of the Golan Heights, security arrangements and Israeli-Syrian peace accords if it agrees to talks with Syria. However, Washington has stipulated that Israel must not agree to any negotiations, even indirectly, on the United States' position, or on the future of Lebanon. Furthermore, Israel must not make promises to Syria regarding U.S. policy. According to the new position, Washington will deal directly with Syria on these matters. Syria's role in terrorism, the presence of terrorist organizations in Damascus and its involvement in smuggling weapons to Hezbollah and the Palestinian territories are currently issues which the U.S. is not discussing with Damascus. Iran and its military connection with Syria is also not a topic that is open to discussion at present. During a recent visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responded forcefully when the issue of Assad's call for a resumption of negotiations with Israel was raised. "It is best that you avoid even exploring this possibility," she said. Israel's government interpreted this as a firm American stance preventing Syria from taking advantage of talks with Israel to extricate itself from diplomatic isolation before fulfilling its obligation to control insurgents from crossing into Iraq, and before meeting the demands of the international investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. In past closed meetings, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has argued that U.S. President George Bush opposes talks between Israel and Damascus. Mossad chief Meir Dagan also opposed talks with Syria. However military intelligence leaders including former Military Intelligence chief, Major General (res.) Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash, and his successor, Major General Amos Yadlin, were in favor. Former chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon raised the issue of talks with Syria in meetings with former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who rejected the proposal. The American position changed due Syria's participation in the Arab League summit in Riyadh. During the meeting of Iraq's neighbors, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem adopted a moderate position. Rice then held a private meeting with Mualem. Rice intends to invite Syria as well as Palestinian representatives and Israel to an international summit on the Arab-Israeli conflict, according to a plan being drafted by the U.S. State Department. If this occurs, the American position regarding possible talks between Israel and Syria will no longer be relevant. Bookmark to del.icio.us Big heart The organs of an IDF soldier were donated to five people in Israel and Germany. Settler harassment Palestinians in the West Bank said settlers threw stones at a boy and stole his donkey.   1.   Syria MUST...... 05:09  |  IsraFan 21/05/07   2.   Good! 05:17  |  Danite 21/05/07   3.   Olmert and Gang will sale Israel`s security for their Jobs 05:18  |  Sam Weinstein 21/05/07   4.   Olmert and Gang will sale Israel`s security for their Jobs 05:18  |  Sam Weinstein 21/05/07   5.   Talks 05:31  |  Jack 21/05/07   6.   Good!!! now start talking Israel and Syria!!!!!!!!!!! 05:38  |  MOE 21/05/07   7.   FOR SALE .. GOLAN HEIGHTS very cheap empty promises good enough 05:52  |  zionist forever 21/05/07   8.   Why talk... 06:06  |  Joseph 21/05/07   9.   US Permission? 06:14  |  Bernie 21/05/07   10.   You Know The Funny Thing 06:21  |  Bernie 21/05/07   11.   Israel, the US is about to screw us!! 06:31  |  שילוה 21/05/07   12.   More Livni+Rice Surrenders 06:55  |  Dr. Dave 21/05/07   13.   Who Cares What the U.S. Allows 06:56  |  Martin 21/05/07   14.   Forcing peace crap 07:07  |  Brod 21/05/07   15.   Dr Dave - A Dose of Reality 07:21  |  Bernie 21/05/07   16.   Is Syria preparing for an attack with SLA, IDF and UNFIL 07:28  |  Jonathan 21/05/07   17.   Martin # 13 07:37  |  Eli 21/05/07   18.   it would seem 07:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/07   19.   Screw Bush! 07:57  |  Avraham 21/05/07   20.   #jack talk and sovereignity 08:14  |  independence 21/05/07   21.   Only Syria can save Israel! 08:28  |  Robert 21/05/07   22.   Isn`t there a contradiction here? 08:32  |  Yonatan 21/05/07   23.   Jonathon - the SLA 08:38  |  Bernie 21/05/07   24.   #5 Jack - on political realities 08:40  |  Yonatan 21/05/07   25.   Get rid of Olmert 08:59  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 21/05/07   26.   Bush`s other poodle 09:07  |  Dave 21/05/07   27.   Israel takes orders from America regarding security? 09:19  |  Natallie Durson 21/05/07   28.   #9 Say Bernie 09:34  |  ballistic 21/05/07   29.   #10 Say Bernie; this post sounds VERY 09:36  |  ballistic 21/05/07   30.   #15 Bernie is handing out doses of LSD 09:42  |  Dr. Dave 21/05/07   31.   #11 "US is about to screw us" 09:44  |  ballistic 21/05/07   32.   #15 Bernie; your well reasoned post 09:47  |  ballistic 21/05/07   33.   Danite; circumstances will make a monkey 09:48  |  ballistic 21/05/07   34.   syria will take the golan in return for nothing. ABSOLUTELY ZERO 09:59  |  Pavel 21/05/07   35.   #18 It would appear so, Cipora. 10:08  |  Johnboy 21/05/07   36.   #35, johnny 10:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/07   37.   what independence??? 10:27  |  raymond deane 21/05/07   38.   2 Problems 10:44  |  Rightclick 21/05/07   39.   Bend over Israel you`re about to get screwed...again. 10:46  |  Reuven 21/05/07   40.   WHAT A JOKE 10:47  |  VIPER 21/05/07   41.   Who`s the Boss? 10:54  |  Walid 21/05/07   42.   Obedience Training 11:03  |  Hannah 21/05/07   43.   #37 HOLD ON THERE RAYMOND ISNT EIRE DEPENDENT ON EU HANDOUTS 13:36  |  paul harris 21/05/07   44.   PAUL HARRIS - EIRE 14:28  |  Jack 21/05/07   45.   Talk to Syria about post-Bush US 14:32  |  Tosefta 21/05/07   46.   What is there to talk about? Another Oslo-Itnatkut fiasco? 14:32  |  Me 21/05/07   47.   moe from Ramallah 15:23  |  citizen zero 21/05/07   48.   #44 JACK SENDS AMESSAGE HOWEVER HE FORGETS HISTORY 15:26  |  paul harris 21/05/07   49.   #27 Israel may 15:32  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07   50.   #23 Bernie - right back at ya! 15:32  |  Kate 21/05/07   51.   Tosefta #45 15:48  |  American in NY 21/05/07   52.   Israel never learns 15:51  |  Nabil 21/05/07   53.   #36 Cipora Julianna Kohn 15:56  |  Johnboy 21/05/07   54.   Time for peace 16:02  |  Syrian 21/05/07   55.   #28 and WHEN IS THAT KNICKER ELASTIC ?? 16:55  |  paul harris 21/05/07   56.   HEy JohnBoy 16:55  |  Yossi 21/05/07   57.   To 54 17:08  |  Yossi 21/05/07   58.   On the Golan 17:28  |  Polybios 21/05/07   59.   who is your master? 17:29  |  emad matahin 21/05/07   60.   Sunni Syria has to be brought into the coallision 17:34  |  Lars Hansen 21/05/07   61.   Tosefta 17:36  |  Polybios 21/05/07   62.   #54 Time for peace for sure.... 17:46  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07   63.   Good analysis, Nabil 17:47  |  Polybios 21/05/07   64.   #55 Hey Paul Harris; you are the `giant brain` 18:22  |  ballistic 21/05/07   65.   Who are they! 18:30  |  Sunny 21/05/07   66.   To #57 18:33  |  Syrian 21/05/07   67.   To #62 18:39  |  Syrian 21/05/07   68.   To #61 18:45  |  Syrian 21/05/07   69.   ballistic how convenient 18:49  |  Danite 21/05/07   70.   Ballistic and all readers 18:50  |  שילוה 21/05/07   71.   A Message to the Old Zionists 18:55  |  Bernie 21/05/07   72.   US policy towards Syria (American in NY) 18:57  |  Tosefta 21/05/07   73.   Young Israelis Stand Up 19:01  |  Bernie 21/05/07   74.   George "Wimpy" Bush 19:02  |  MichaelF 21/05/07   75.   #9 Neo cons is right, read the sites i listed in post 70 19:06  |  שילוה 21/05/07   76.   One More Great Idea 19:07  |  Bernie 21/05/07   77.   Excuses, excuses (Polybius #61) 19:14  |  Tosefta 21/05/07   78.   #71 - Bernie 19:17  |  MichaelF 21/05/07   79.   #76 - Bernie 19:22  |  MichaelF 21/05/07   80.   Syrian #68 19:23  |  Polybios 21/05/07   81.   To #80 19:31  |  Syrian 21/05/07   82.   US is simply sayin` to Israel that if Israel want to get lost 19:33  |  Joseph E . 21/05/07   83.   Tosefta 19:35  |  Polybios 21/05/07   84.   Michael - Extremists are One Thing 19:41  |  Bernie 21/05/07   85.   Syrian #81 19:44  |  Polybios 21/05/07   86.   Israeli Loyal Bushies 19:55  |  Pablo B 21/05/07   87.   get this straight, Israel 20:06  |  jew-boy 21/05/07   88.   Agree with you, sort of (Polybius #83) 20:11  |  Tosefta 21/05/07   89.   Bernie, was that a joke, because I didn`t get it 20:57  |  Jake 21/05/07   90.   Bernie with the usual cheap blackmail 21:02  |  Jake 21/05/07   91.   Tosefta #72 21:03  |  American in NY 21/05/07   92.   its not about peace making its ambitious politicans 21:06  |  zionist forever 21/05/07   93.   Polybius 21:07  |  Danite 21/05/07   94.   Syrian 21:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/07   95.   Of course, Danite #93 21:27  |  Polybios 21/05/07   96.   Ballistic 21:29  |  Spanish Teacher 21/05/07   97.   Pelosi is insane 21:48  |  Joseph 21/05/07   98.   #64 KNICKER E AND THE JOKES SHE SPINS 22:02  |  paul harris 21/05/07   99.   #96 Spanish Teacher/Paul Harris 23:16  |  ballistic 21/05/07   100.   #98 Nothing has changed you say? 23:23  |  ballistic 21/05/07   101.   #69 No, Danite; all it proves is that the gig 23:30  |  ballistic 21/05/07   102.   Polybius 00:32  |  Danite 22/05/07   103.   ballistic either you are dishonest or 00:35  |  Danite 22/05/07   104.   #46-post-Bush US 00:52  |  Observer 22/05/07   105.   to#54-Syrian 00:58  |  Observer 22/05/07   106.   #70 01:05  |  ballistic 22/05/07   107.   I would not be surprised if Israel gave back G H too RIGHT ??? 01:33  |  M. Segal 22/05/07   108.   Israel need to make a deal with Syria 01:49  |  steve 22/05/07   109.   #56 Yossi, sticking a head in the sand 02:03  |  Johnboy 22/05/07   110.   Syria`s ambitions 02:03  |  Scientist 22/05/07   111.   Good news to begin negotiating with Syria and 02:26  |  Smadar 22/05/07   112.   69 Danite - The Dynamics 02:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/05/07   113.   Danite; what is that gibberish? 02:40  |  ballistic 22/05/07   114.   #110, Scientist 02:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/05/07   115.   ballistic 03:03  |  danite 22/05/07   116.   Mark of Lewiston - then why? 03:16  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/07   117.   Ballistic gibbrish 03:17  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/07   118.   Danite - Ballistic 03:18  |  Mark Lincoln 22/05/07   119.   #112, Mark of Lewiston 03:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/05/07   120.   Jake - It`s Not Your Fault 03:40  |  Bernie 22/05/07   121.   Rare good news from Bush (Smadar #111) 04:03  |  Tosefta 22/05/07   122.   #114 Cipora - ohhhhh, the irony of your statement! 04:20  |  Johnboy 22/05/07   123.   #121, johnny 05:23  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/05/07   124.   118 Cipora Julianna Kohn 05:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/05/07   125.   115 Mark Lincoln - I Wish I Knew 05:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/05/07   126.   #118 Hello Lady Ballistic 06:11  |  tad 22/05/07   127.   #123 Cipora still has me chuckling 06:25  |  Johnboy 22/05/07   128.   The actual Gaza rockets are due to Syria`s mukawamat`s threats 07:07  |  Joseph E . 22/05/07   129.   Mark of Lewiston 07:07  |  Danite 22/05/07   130.   # 7 israelis should never have been in the golan 10:15  |  eric 22/05/07   131.   Danite #102 16:56  |  Polybios 22/05/07   132.   130 eric. Nonsense 17:03  |  Polybios 22/05/07   133.   #118 Hey there Mark Lincoln 18:03  |  ballistic 22/05/07   134.   #126 Hey Tad; read your post. 18:11  |  ballistic 22/05/07   135.   #115 Say Danite; what doesn`t make any sense 18:27  |  ballistic 22/05/07   136.   To 66 Syrian 07:42  |  Yossi 23/05/07   137.   To 109 JohnBoy 08:00  |  Yossi 23/05/07   138.   # 132 polybios, with an "objective" reference 08:52  |  eric 23/05/07   139.   Yossi # 136 16:10  |  Syrian 23/05/07   140.   Permission?? This is a joke. 17:38  |  Darin 23/05/07   141.   respond to # 54 syrian 01:34  |  nina 02/12/07

Today Online Abbas: Now is the moment of truth for Palestinian statehood Responses: 397 Editorial: If Israel wants to avoid its apartheid epithet, it must halt expansion Responses: 329 Washington: No place yet for Syria in the peace process Responses: 106 High Court orders state to delay power cuts to Gaza Responses: 85 Haaretz.com TV: Gazans using Viagra to alleviate distress Responses: 69 Esther Solomon: Falling for falsehood of Holocaust e-mail Responses: 30 Rosner's Domain The new Jews who actually love their Shabbat services "Anyone who shows contempt for Bush - not serious person," says Olmert Lebanon will pay the price for Annapolis (WTR) Poll: So, was the Annapolis meeting a success? More Headlines 03:34 Study: U.S., Israel should begin planning Iran strike 22:27 Abbas reiterates refusal to recognize Jewish state 02:55 Israel won't cut power to Gaza Strip until High Court gives okay 23:26 Hamas threatens to 'strike deep' after six militants killed in Gaza 05:39 Millions of names thought vanished added to Holocaust museum records 01:46 Envoy: UN may have deal on third sanctions resolution against Iran 02:49 Peki`in officials call to establish commission to probe clashes 00:32 Parents' organizations split over holding strike at schools 01:59 Eilat hotels ban hiring foreign workers in favor of new immigrants Previous Editions Select Day 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 23 nov 22 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov

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