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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 07:42 19/11/2007 Olmert and Barak hint at desire to renew negotiations with Syria By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Golan Heights, Ehud Barak  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are not losing sight of the importance of the Syrian track in regional negotiations, and have stressed, on separate occasions, the significance of Damascus participating in the Annapolis summit. During a recent visit to the United States, Barak urged American officials to find ways to extricate Syria from the current isolation imposed on it by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. He was quoted as saying that "there is room for reexamining the Syrian track," and he mentioned the significance of Syrian participation in Annapolis. "It could be that the effort with Syria will fail," Barak said, "but its participation [in the summit] can lead to processes that may extract Syria from the radical axis with Iran." Advertisement For his part, the prime minister on Sunday hinted once more that there are messages being exchanged between Israel and Syria. During a meeting with the Council for Peace Initiatives in his Jerusalem residence, Olmert said: "The fact that there is currently a great focus on the Palestinian question in the Annapolis summit does not mean that other parties are being neglected, but it is best not to expound on the matter at this time." Olmert's comments came in response to a question by former chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who noted that, "it is necessary to move ahead on other [not only the Palestinian] tracks, too, and it would be a positive thing if Annapolis would also further the Syrian [track]." A senior official confirmed Sunday that messages have been exchanged with Syria in recent months, but stressed that no negotiations are underway with Israel. "We are doing things on the Syrian track, but we are not talking to them. The prime minister has even let this be known at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee," the official added. During a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner Sunday, Olmert said that he would be glad to see Syria participate in the Annapolis summit, but "I have not changed my position - that the summit needs to deal only with the Palestinian issue." Meanwhile, Channel 2 reported Sunday that the United States has changed its stance regarding the possibility of negotiations between Israel and Syria. According to the report, senior American officials said in talks with their Israel counterparts that they consider negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus to be an opportunity that should be supported. The same sources added that Syria's participation in the Annapolis summit could be a first, positive sign of future negotiations. Related articles Arab League to meet on summit stance as Syria mulls participation Olmert: Would be 'right' for Syria to attend AnnapolisMinister Majadele: Israel is ready to return Golan for peace Bookmark to del.icio.us MTV generation MTV launches new channel in effort to draw Arab viewers. Not settling for less PA to U.S.: We demand a complete settlement freeze.   1.   These Fools Think Assad Will Cease Trying to Destroy Israel ? 05:34  |  Tod Zuckerman 19/11/07   2.   # 1 to tod z. 07:04  |  eric 19/11/07   3.   Golan 07:51  |  R 19/11/07   4.   A piece of paper for the golan = WAR!!!!! 08:43  |  Ben Uziel 19/11/07   5.   Why not use two poles to catch one fish? 08:58  |  Natallie Durson 19/11/07   6.   Syrian track = trap set against Israel by US Dep`t of States 09:44  |  Joseph E . 19/11/07   7.   #5, "reliable peace with Syria," an oxymoron 09:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/11/07   8.   Olmert & Barak desire = intent to squeeze money from US to Assad 09:56  |  Joseph E . 19/11/07   9.   GOLAN IS ISRAEL,ALSO DAMASCUS PURCHASED BY SIR MOSHE MONTEFIORI & 09:57  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 19/11/07   10.   Too risky to give up Golan 10:07  |  Dr Eric 19/11/07   11.   IF BULLYING DIDN`T WORK, THEN NEGOTIATE 10:10  |  indrajaya 19/11/07   12.   i hint at desire to understand israeli policy 10:11  |  i give up 19/11/07   13.   Land for peace is simply a bribe 10:26  |  David G 19/11/07   14.   to indrajaya 10:34  |  Sue 19/11/07   15.   # 14, SUE 10:56  |  Indrajaya 19/11/07   16.   for once i agree with all jews here 13:07  |  VIPER 19/11/07   17.   #9, stupid VOICE OF WHOEVER 13:11  |  VIPER 19/11/07   18.   # 7 The Arabs say the same thing about Israel 13:51  |  Natallie Durson 19/11/07   19.   Benefits to add Golan issue to Annapolis agenda 15:08  |  Ivar 19/11/07   20.   i never know ehud means idiot in hebrew ? 15:34  |  victor hardman 19/11/07   21.   What a comedy team! 16:36  |  Mark Lincoln 19/11/07   22.   #10 Dr Eric 17:05  |  Boycott 19/11/07   23.   Isreal it`s interested in peac 18:27  |  Ziad 19/11/07

Today Online Gazan dies of cancer after refused entry into Israel Responses: 213 Shmuel Rosner: Anti-Israel attitudes on U.S. campuses Responses: 71 Yossi Beilin: Better to skip Annapolis meet than go there like this Responses: 64 Israel okays release of 441 Palestinians before summit Responses: 46 Poll: Most Americans still strong supporters of Israel Responses: 99 Rosner's Domain The case against war with Iran (WTR) New Guest: On anti-Israel attitudes on contemporary campuses Poll: Should Israel "get used" to the Iranian bomb? The Annapolis dictionary: P is for photo-op More Headlines 18:20 Report: PM helped friend get millions in gov't grant 18:04 Comptroller: IDF reservists didn't train properly for 5 years 18:19 Government cites 'progress' as Olmert and Abbas meeting ends 16:36 IDF chief says opposed to newly approved prisoner release 15:42 Chestnut from Anne Frank tree goes on sale on eBay 13:45 PM, Mubarak to meet in Sharm al-Sheikh Tuesday for surprise talks 08:12 Germany rejects request to reopen talks on reparations deal 14:13 In planned Gaza fun park - no kissing allowed 15:35 Migrant caregiver charged with murder of elderly woman 10:50 Survey: Majority of Americans are still strong supporters of Israel Previous Editions Select Day 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov

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