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Former Foreign Ministry Director General Alon Liel (Nitzan Shorer) Last update - 19:08 17/03/2008 Ex-diplomat: Syria talks could resume soon after U.S. elections By The Associated Press Tags: Alon Liel, Syria, Israel  Alon Liel, a leading lobbyist for Israeli-Syrian talks said Monday that negotiations could resume within months of a new U.S. administration taking office, regardless of who wins the November election, and a peace treaty could be in place by the end of next year. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier Monday that Israel was interested in talking with Syria, talks which he said will lead Damascus to break with the "Axis of Evil." Olmert, addressing an historic joint session of Israeli and German cabinet ministers, said that Israel is interested in talking with Syria, talks which he said will lead Damascus to break with the "Axis of Evil." Advertisement According to Olmert, Israel has no interest in confrontation on its northern border with Lebanon. As for the south of the country, he said, "The government must do everything in order to defend its citizens, and it will do so." "At the same time," added Olmert, "it will act to advance the peace process. Negotiations are not a default option for us, we are conducting them because we believe that there is a chance to reach an agreement. Liel, chairman of the Israel-Syria Peace Society lobby group and former director of Israel's Foreign Ministry, said that in meetings with Republicans close to presumptive presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and with strategists for Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, he saw new openness toward Syria. "I was just in Washington for a week and I had about 12 meetings in Congress, with Democrats and with Republicans, and I think that there is a majority in the American decision-making machine, certainly in the new teams, for talks with Syria," Liel told The Associated Press. U.S.-Syrian relations cooled following the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, an attack many blamed on Damascus. The U.S. recalled its ambassador and slapped a diplomatic boycott on Syria, accusing it of supporting international terror and undermining U.S. efforts in Iraq. Israel-Syria peace talks broke down in 2000 with an Israeli offer on the table to withdraw from the Golan Heights - a strategic plateau that Syria lost to Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Syria insisted on an Israeli pullback to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Since then each side has pronounced itself ready to renew negotiations and they have exchanged messages through third party emissaries, but there has been no sign of movement. Liel said that while Bush has not actively prevented Israel and Syria from holding talks, practical diplomacy means that no such talks could take place as long as the U.S. refuses to deal with the Syrians. "These days the situation is such that you can no longer sit and talk only about the Israel-Syria border and a peace treaty between the two countries," Liel said, adding that the agenda would have to include Syria's support for Hezbollah, Hamas and other violent groups, its political role in Lebanon and its alliance with Iran. "Damascus will only consider discussing such issues as a way to reducing its international isolation and that means getting American concessions," Liel said. "You need the Americans, and the Americans say we're not coming," he added. "Because the Syrians want the Americans in the room, this, in practice, prevents talks." Related articles: Alon Liel: Israel rejected Syrian bid for wartime talks Israeli, Syrian representatives reach secret understandings A conference of cowboys Bookmark to del.icio.us   Condemned cinema Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive.' Suspecting Syria UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM Hariri murder case.   1.   Interesting 18:21  |  MichaelF 17/03/08   2.   Alon Liel 18:39  |  Arnold Flick 17/03/08   3.   No land return to Syria 19:13  |  Vitaly 17/03/08   4.   For the last 2 years I`ve been warning of US pressure 19:30  |  Pablo B 17/03/08   5.   Syria was a US ally. Will be again. 21:07  |  Pablo B 17/03/08   6.   The End of the Talks 23:27  |  J 17/03/08   7.   Nobel Prize 23:27  |  The syrian 17/03/08   8.   #1 And your conclusion, MichaelF???? 23:43  |  Johnboy 17/03/08   9.   What twaddle 01:10  |  Mark Lincoln 18/03/08   10.   Ex-diplomat:Syria talks could resume soon after U.S. elections 05:41  |  Proud Syrian 18/03/08   11.   Syria would never go for it RIGHT ??? 03:10  |  M. S. 23/03/08

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 50 FM: We need to set final borders before legislating on settler evacuation Responses: 74 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 91 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? New pro-Israel-pro-peace dovish lobby ready to launch (WTR) Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process More Headlines 17:18 Rice: We'll monitor Israel's vow to ease Palestinian movement 16:12 Arab League: Support for Saudi peace plan depends on Israel 16:15 Police postpone opening of new West Bank station near J'lem 16:47 On Israel, Clinton, Obama and McCain all aim to be like Bush 14:11 Police arrest four in Bat Yam, call off high terror alert 12:03 Official: PM sent 20 messages of peace to Assad, but Syrian Pres. disappointed us 14:33 Palestinians marking Land Day clash with IDF troops in W. Bank 16:53 Cabinet approves development of national bicycle network 14:08 UN wants UNIFIL in charge in Israel-Lebanon border town 14:36 Egypt-Gaza border tunnel collapse kills Palestinian smuggler 13:36 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' 13:37 Budget problems force closure of top Druze science school Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

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