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Former diplomat: Assad seeks talks with Israel By Akiva Eldar Syrian President Bashir Assad would like to restart peace talks with Israel immediately, according to Alon Liel, former Foreign Ministry director-general, who met with Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Mustafa, in Washington last week. Liel, who heads a movement advocating peace between Israel and Syria, said he briefed the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem of his talks. Advertisement For two years, until the summer of 2006, the former Israeli official held talks with a Syrian-American businessman, Abe Suleiman, with ties in the top echelons of the Assad regime. The talks were held under Swiss auspices and with the knowledge of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Liel and Suleiman prepared a document on a possible peace agreement which, among other issues, proposed a demilitarized buffer zone on the Golan Heights that would include a "peace park" for tourists. Liel refused to comment on his visit yesterday, but sources at the Movement for Israel-Syria Peace, said that his visit to the U.S. focused on relations between Washington and Damascus, and included meetings in Congress. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.

Today Online 2 IDF soldiers, 61 Palestinians die in Gaza clashes Responses: 595 Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south Responses: 467 Analysis: Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble Responses: 244 Bradley Burston: True Islam will spell defeat for the Jihadists Responses: 126 When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm Responses: 127 More Headlines 01:42 2 IDF soldiers, 61 Palestinians die in Gaza clashes 00:12 5 hurt in Ashkelon as close to 50 rockets hit southern Israel 00:15 PA suspends peace talks with Israel over Gaza violence 00:48 Family and friends gather to pay respects to fallen IDF soldiers 00:17 Meshal: Gaza is 'real holocaust,' armed resistance only option 00:18 Vice Premier: Reoccupying Gaza will hurt Israel more than help it 00:19 ANALYSIS / Gaza raids met by loud silence from the Arab world 08:38 Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap 22:40 N.Y. Plaza Hotel, co-owned by Israeli and Saudi groups, reopens doors 20:27 Lebanese TV: Saudi, Kuwait urge nationals to leave Lebanon 07:53 Israeli tennis star Peer upset in semifinals of Memphis tourney Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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