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Syrian and Iranian presidents, Bashar Assad, right, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, listening in July to their national anthems in Damascus. (AP) Last update - 12:13 16/08/2007 Turkey working to jumpstart peace talks between Israel, Syria By Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Turkey, Iran, Syria  ANKARA - Israel should not view Syria as a branch of Iran because Tehran and Damascus differ on regional issues, Turkish officials trying to jumpstart peace talks between Syria and Israel told Haaretz this week. Amid rising tensions between Israel and Syria, the sources added that peace with Syria is easier to achieve than an agreement with the Palestinians. The officials said they were encouraged by recent statements by Syrian and Israeli decision-makers, and described Syrian President Bashar Assad's recent statements on the chance of resuming negotiations as particularly positive. Advertisement The Turkish diplomats noted that Assad refrained from reiterating his former insistence on picking up where the last round of talks ended. Several Israeli prime ministers had agreed to meet the Syrian precondition of a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which Israel conquered from Syria in 1967. The Turkish officials drew further encouragement from Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara's statement Tuesday that his country will not go to war over the Golan. The officials described the "peace-oriented propaganda efforts" on both sides and the "positive rhetoric." With regard to Syria's complicated relationship with Iran, the Turkish officials said that Assad's regime should not be viewed as subject to Iranian control. They noted that Syria and Iran disagree on many key issues such as the future Palestinian state, Lebanon, and whether to pursue peace talks with Israel. The Turkish sources said proof of this was that Syria had actively encouraged the Mecca Agreement signed by the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in February. Damascus pressured then prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to sign the deal despite Iranian resistance to the terms. The Turkish mediators are operating under the assumption that the prospect of renewed peace talks between Israel and Syria is more achievable than a permanent agreement between Jerusalem and the Palestinians. The Turkish foreign office views the Palestinian problem as a three-layered predicament, with each level entailing its own difficulties. Ankara perceives the border dispute between Israel and the Palestinians as a regional multinational problem. The question of the Palestinian refugees and the right of return is perceived by the Turks to be an Arab, national problem. The holy places and the dispute over jurisdiction there is viewed as a religious conflict. So the Turkish foreign ministry regards the Israeli-Syrian dispute as much more solvable because it relates to a simple territorial issue - control of the Golan Heights. Turkey is therefore opposed to the American-imposed containment policy against Syria, Hamas' Gaza regime and Iran. Ankara argues that bundling these three states together as one axis could create a unified and defiant front against moderate interests and drive Syria and Hamas to further cement their relations with Iran. Turkish officials believe the internal Palestinian dispute between Hamas and Fatah is not yet solvable. The Turks nonetheless recognize that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas cannot offer Israel any viable solutions without securing Hamas' support first. For that reason, Turkey decided to maintain its contact with Hamas - in contrast with the Israeli and American stance. "The United States may ultimately realize that Turkey's stance was the right one, just as it reached the conclusion of engaging in dialogue with Iran over the situation in Iraq," a Turkish official said. Syrian Minister: We hope war does not erupt The Syrian Minister for Expatriate Affairs, Dr. Buthania Sha'ban, said Thursday on a BBC talk show that "we hope war does not erupt. We do not want wars; we want to live in peace on our lands, and our forefather's lands." Sha'ban criticized the United States' policy of isolating Syria, saying that "the possibility of war is the result of a policy which refuses to talk to certain states." Sha'ban, who had been a translator for Syrian President Bashas Assad, said that the million of dollars being invested in armament could be sent on stabilizing the region and creating a foundation of peace and justice. Despite official denials by the state, the general feeling in Syria is that a war is soon to break out. Arabs in Israel, who have many relatives in Syria told Haaretz that the Syrian people are preparing for war and that the rumors emanating about are that a war will break out in the near future. "Perhaps Assad wants to prove that he has done something for his people. He is not like his father." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   AKP`S ISLAMIST TURKISH GOVT NOT A TRUE FRIEND OF ISRAEL 03:14  |  Yilmaz Ozturk 16/08/07   2.   "Mecca Agreement" proved the exact opposite of what the Turks say 03:54  |  McQueen 16/08/07   3.   Turkey is lying 04:17  |  Mark Greenbaum 16/08/07   4.   TURKEY IS A TURKEY 04:49  |  PalestiniansAreAMyth 16/08/07   5.   The Neo-Morons aka the neocons 05:00  |  Mark Lincoln 16/08/07   6.   Iran-Syria `interferences` extortions are ready for `dialogue` on 05:50  |  Joseph E . 16/08/07   7.   Syria Turky Israel 05:59  |  Alex S. 16/08/07   8.   Syria, Israel etc. 07:31  |  Ari 16/08/07   9.   Hamas as a terrorist group 07:44  |  Neil 16/08/07   10.   # 4 Palestiniansareamyth 08:12  |  Dagma 16/08/07   11.   Turkey working to calm Israel-Syria tensions 08:29  |  alex 16/08/07   12.   Whats wrong with this article?? 08:53  |  Mehmet 16/08/07   13.   To Yilmaz Ozturk 08:54  |  Uri 16/08/07   14.   IRAN IS EVERYBODY`S ALLY IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD 10:01  |  indrajaya 16/08/07   15.   IRAN IS EVERYBODY`S ALLY IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD 10:01  |  indrajaya 16/08/07   16.   AKP is islamist but at the same time 10:16  |  mehmet 16/08/07   17.   12 is identity theft and Yilmaz Ozturk is partially wrong 10:20  |  mehmet 16/08/07   18.   #13 10:28  |  Alan 16/08/07   19.   Indra 10:39  |  Infidel Too 16/08/07   20.   Fake indrajaya # 14 10:52  |  indrajaya 16/08/07   21.   Alexandretta (Iskanderun) 10:53  |  Per-Olof Gutman 16/08/07   22.   no. 18--Alan 11:21  |  steve 16/08/07   23.   # 20, FALSE INDRAJAYA ALERT 11:41  |  indrajaya 16/08/07   24.   #23 Fake False Indrajaya Alert 11:55  |  Indrajaya 16/08/07   25.   Turkey is Right,From its Own Perspective 12:04  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/08/07   26.   Alan 12:09  |  Amir Khan 16/08/07   27.   And Israel should reciprocate by jump-starting the PKK-Turkey 12:15  |  Absolute Sweden 16/08/07   28.   Lost everything 12:32  |  Shemo 16/08/07   29.   # 18 12:58  |  Uri 16/08/07   30.   SYRIAN PEACE: APPLY SYRIAN-TURKISH MODEL, NOT EGYPT-ISRAEL MODEL 13:13  |  Joel Stein 16/08/07   31.   Gobble gobble 13:17  |  Chaim Gorenstein 16/08/07   32.   #30 Hatay Model 13:48  |  Burekas 16/08/07   33.   #29 13:49  |  Burekas 16/08/07   34.   #28 13:51  |  Burekas 16/08/07   35.   TURKEY DOESN`T UNDERSTAND ARABS ANYMORE 14:15  |  Ian 16/08/07   36.   Turkey is being used in this matter 14:23  |  mehmet 16/08/07   37.   Syria Must Be Crushed 15:22  |  Tal 16/08/07   38.   Turkey may be doing this to... 16:38  |  Walter 16/08/07   39.   Turkey understands what Bush doesn`t 16:43  |  Tosefta 16/08/07   40.   Geopolitically it makes sense 16:48  |  ATLAS 16/08/07   41.   To Burekas ?nuke 17:01  |  Shemo 16/08/07   42.   APPLY HATAY MODEL (#32 Burekas) 17:07  |  Joel Stein 16/08/07   43.   Technically incompetent Censor 17:15  |  Me 16/08/07   44.   Possibilities 17:22  |  Lisen 16/08/07   45.   Re 14 Whee should I go? 17:25  |  Alan the real one 16/08/07   46.   Anyone who reads the regional press 17:32  |  Mark Lincoln 16/08/07   47.   #37 Tal, where have you been all those years 17:47  |  Wise Syrian 16/08/07   48.   #35 Ian...mendacity 17:56  |  Wise Syrian 16/08/07   49.   #22 18:02  |  Alan 16/08/07   50.   #26 18:08  |  Alan 16/08/07   51.   #29 and #33 18:21  |  Alan 16/08/07   52.   Alan 18:49  |  Amir Khan 16/08/07   53.   Burekas # 33 19:12  |  David Israel 16/08/07   54.   Yilmaz ozturk 19:22  |  David Israel 16/08/07   55.   Mehmet #36 19:27  |  David Israel 16/08/07   56.   Bush believes what neocon Christians believe 19:43  |  Mark Lincoln 16/08/07   57.   Tosefta - the axis of evil 19:45  |  Mark Lincoln 16/08/07   58.   # 12 Good post Mehmet.... 19:59  |  Misha 16/08/07   59.   David Israel 55 20:44  |  mehmet 16/08/07   60.   The second coming (Mark Lincoln #56) 21:01  |  Tosefta 16/08/07   61.   Assad dynasty walks a fine line, but has no choice 21:07  |  Voice of Reason 16/08/07   62.   USELESS EFFORTS 21:34  |  indrajaya 16/08/07   63.   Very interesting approach/effort. Big thanks to the Turkish!!! 21:38  |  J.M.Jordan 16/08/07   64.   Lincolns Tiresome Drivel 22:04  |  Larry 16/08/07   65.   Promises, Promises, from Mark Lincoln and Tosefta 22:07  |  Jacob Blues 16/08/07   66.   More Promises from Mark and Tosefta 22:12  |  Jacob Blues 16/08/07   67.   #57 mark i dont think its that axis 22:24  |  victor hardman 16/08/07   68.   Chinese wisdom for Slowman 22:36  |  Me 16/08/07   69.   # 16 Mehmat 22:36  |  Abu Yusuf 16/08/07   70.   PERHAPS SOMEONE SHOULD REMIND TURKEY 22:47  |  paul harris 16/08/07   71.   The Asses of Evil 22:47  |  Tosefta 16/08/07   72.   The second coming (Mark Lincoln #56) - on second try 23:00  |  Tosefta 16/08/07   73.   Jacob Blues: Tosefta.Lincoln and the Domino Theory of the Axis 23:41  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/08/07   74.   Land for Peace 23:47  |  Schtarker Yid 16/08/07   75.   If Syria wants peace they can have it. 23:48  |  Chick 16/08/07   76.   I stand corrected Tosefta 01:20  |  Mark Lincoln 17/08/07   77.   Asses of Evil - Tosefta 01:24  |  Mark Lincoln 17/08/07   78.   Mehmet #59 01:53  |  David Israel 17/08/07   79.   # 62 Indrajaya from Jakarta 03:17  |  ATLAS 17/08/07   80.   Is it really an ass? (Mark Lincoln #77) 03:45  |  Tosefta 17/08/07   81.   Re79 Easy 04:25  |  Alan The real one 17/08/07   82.   horse 06:51  |  wiseup 17/08/07   83.   #36 Mehmet 06:56  |  Infidel Too 17/08/07   84.   uri, estonia 07:34  |  wiseup 17/08/07   85.   Israel should end its occupation of Golan 08:08  |  Mahmood 17/08/07   86.   Turkey is not lying 08:16  |  Karakan 17/08/07   87.   David Israel 08:19  |  wiseup 17/08/07   88.   I am Mehmet #12 & Contested Turkish lands 12:55  |  Mehmet12 17/08/07   89.   The second coming (Mark Lincoln #56) 21:20  |  Age 17/08/07   90.   APPLY HATAY MODEL (#32 Burekas) 22:13  |  Age 17/08/07   91.   On the Hatay Model 18:46  |  mehmet12 18/08/07   92.   Can may Syria go it alone RIGHT ??? 05:53  |  M. Segal 19/08/07   93.   aREAB ANS jEWS ONE pEOPLE? 03:02  |  bERNARD 23/11/07   94.   Are Arab and Jews the same Biblical peoplepeople 03:13  |  Loss 23/11/07   95.   To Uri : 01:46  |  Emrah 22/05/08

Read & React Al Gore: Israel should lead the way in renewable energy Responses: 122 Olmert to U.S.: Impose naval blockade on Iran Responses: 229 Israel, Syria to begin indirect peace talks Responses: 206 Shein and Berkowitz: The demise of the European left Responses: 120 Rosner's Domain 8 short comments on the Israel-Syria peace talks 5 questions: Does Israel need rescue? Goldberg vs. Boot. I'm going to stay neutral! Rosner's Guests: Israel not likely to invade Gaza soon Can Obama win over Jewish voters? (WTR) More Headlines 02:23 PM to Haaretz: Talks with Syria are 'historic breakthrough' 02:21 ANALYSIS: What will come first, peace treaty or indictment? 23:54 Ex-Olmert aide recorded money transfers between PM, Messer 21:36 8 short comments on the Israel-Syria peace talks 20:37 Golan regional head: Olmert endangering Israel's existence 00:49 Man U defeats Chelsea FC in Champions League final 21:02 French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous 01:37 Ankara hopes for a direct Israel-Syria meeting next month 22:18 Lebanese relieved as standoff ends; Hezbollah supporters celebrate 21:41 Ex-chief rabbi Eliyahu's condition deteriorates further after stroke 18:31 Microsoft CEO, in Herzliya: Our company almost as Israeli as American 19:31 Hamas: Israel-Syria talks won't affect our 'strategic' ties with Damascus Previous Editions Select Day 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may

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