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Last update - 10:33 22/05/2008 Leave no stone unturned By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel, Syria, Mideast peace  The official announcement published yesterday in three capitals - Jerusalem, Damascus and Ankara - about the opening of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, under the aegis of Turkey, is a source of great hope but also suspicion. This is not the first time hope has been ignited. At least three prime ministers - Yitzhak Rabin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak - drew close, to one extent or another, to an agreement with Syria, but were reluctant at the last minute to sign it. Rabin went so far as to place the conditions for peace as a deposit in the hands of the American administration, a deposit that will now serve as an important legacy for continuing the talks. Had one of the previous prime ministers dared to sign an agreement, Israel's position today would be immeasurably better, and one unnecessary war, the Second Lebanon War, could have been prevented. Peace with Syria might also have ensured a different kind of relationship with Lebanon. It can be assumed, too, that Hezbollah would not be so dangerous and well-equipped an organization if Syria had stopped supporting it. Israel's northern border would be safer and Iran's presence in the region would be weaker under conditions of peace with its ally. It is permitted also to believe that Israel's ties with the Arab world would improve if a peace agreement were signed with another important Arab country. Now, at this blatantly late hour, another historic opportunity is being offered the prime minister of Israel and the members of his government, to try to challenge the peace declarations that have been consistently coming from Syria for some time. The Israeli government is currently headed by a person immersed in criminal investigations and under the most serious suspicions. The fear that this is spin meant to extricate Ehud Olmert from the investigations, which politicians voiced yesterday from the right and left of the political spectrum, is not completely unfounded. Nevertheless, this hour of opportunity must in no way be allowed to pass by. Advertisement Whatever Olmert's motives, it is forbidden to miss historic opportunities. Even if the prime minister promotes an agreement, as he is now doing, but is obliged to resign in the near future because of his personal imbroglios, he will have made a contribution whose importance cannot be overestimated. His heirs will have the task of finishing the job. As long as Olmert is serving in his position, it is incumbent on him to do everything possible to promote peace, and it is incumbent on the public to urge him on. In this respect, it is worthwhile remembering that Olmert began the peace initiative a long while before the affair of the envelopes broke. The indirect talks with Syria that were brokered by the Turks started in February 2007, after the prime minister visited Ankara. At that time, no one had heard of Morris Talansky, and the prime minister was not under the cloud of the current serious affair. Since then, contacts were held until they reached fruition and warranted yesterday's official announcement, after the negotiators, Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, held talks in Istanbul. This is the moment to tell Olmert: Turn over every stone. Let the investigations continue as if there were no peace talks, and let the peace talks continue as if there were no investigations - and perhaps it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Jet error Israeli warplanes come close to shooting down Tony Blair's plane. Rehab (live) Report: Singer Amy Winehouse is to undergo drug rehab in Israel.   1.   Farcical "Peace" Talks 09:27  |  Ben Israel 22/05/08   2.   I will gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today 09:29  |  Natallie Durson 22/05/08   3.   Sleep with Arabs and you`ll be called Sharmouta , 09:29  |  Joseph . E 22/05/08   4.   How Foolish Man Is 09:31  |  Shimon Cleopas 22/05/08   5.   Are you mentally ill? 09:45  |  Harvey (Chaim) 22/05/08   6.   Predictable Idiocy - Turn Over Every Stone for Appeasement 09:54  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/05/08   7.   "Peace talks"? 09:54  |  A Life 22/05/08   8.   If Syria is so eager to reach peace agreement, why does Syria 10:02  |  Yariv Hoshen 22/05/08   9.   did landau write this editorial? 10:12  |  moshe 22/05/08   10.   How about peace among the Jews? 10:12  |  Binyamin Dissen 22/05/08   11.   We have a de facto peace with Syria today 10:44  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/05/08   12.   I miss you my baby haaretz. CAN WE MAKE PEACE ? 10:52  |  ... 22/05/08   13.   Condone every word of timely editorial... 10:57  |  Esther 22/05/08   14.   Natalie, #2 11:16  |  Michael 22/05/08   15.   #11, Margie from TA, how right you are 11:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/05/08   16.   # 15 & 11 12:00  |  Vinegar Hill 22/05/08   17.   So long as Syria continues to collaborate with Hamas, Hizballah, 12:13  |  Avigdor 22/05/08   18.   NO STONE UNTURNED 12:14  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 22/05/08   19.   It is incumbent on the public to urge him on? 12:22  |  Freethinker 22/05/08   20.   ONE THING WON`T EVER HAPPEN 12:24  |  indrajaya 22/05/08   21.   But does the spin work in both senses? 12:28  |  Freethinker 22/05/08   22.   editor you sound desperate 12:32  |  darcy 22/05/08   23.   Re Margie #11 12:35  |  Esther 22/05/08   24.   Re Michael #14 12:46  |  Esther 22/05/08   25.   never trust israelis, never keep their word 13:07  |  VIPER 22/05/08   26.   To Haaretz Editorial Staff: Get Lost 13:07  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/05/08   27.   #11/15 Neither Margie nor Cipora have learnt 13:11  |  examiner 22/05/08   28.   If Syria refuses to recognize Israel`s right to exist, Israel 13:45  |  Ruhama 22/05/08   29.   Esther & Examiner neither of you has the right idea 13:46  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/05/08   30.   Margie wants war- first. 14:05  |  examiner 22/05/08   31.   viper and trust 14:11  |  darcy 22/05/08   32.   Michael - Full points for imagination, none for accuracy 14:45  |  Natallie Durson 22/05/08   33.   i too don`t understand how syria wishes to have peace with israel 14:49  |  anati 22/05/08   34.   #22 darcy in fool flight 14:56  |  maoriboy 22/05/08   35.   prisoners disappearing in muslim lands 15:01  |  darcy 22/05/08   36.   Peace...he said, with Syria..!! 15:17  |  Stephen. 22/05/08   37.   maoriboy it is true the iaf is the best in the world 15:45  |  darcy 22/05/08   38.   maoriboy did you know that when the iaf fought the syrian 15:47  |  darcy 22/05/08   39.   Examiner - 16:24  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/05/08   40.   We already have a very effective peace 16:55  |  Gee 22/05/08   41.   examiner (2nd try Haaretz) 17:50  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/05/08   42.   UDI & ELDAD! 19:02  |  Ariel 22/05/08   43.   Yes, Hezbolla Bases on the Kinneret Please 20:12  |  Oiy Va Voiy 22/05/08   44.   Margie, the problem is not only w/Syria - 20:18  |  ivo 22/05/08   45.   BOMB BASHAR ASSAD PALACE AND YOU WILL NOTICE HEZBOLLAH RETREAT))) 20:37  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 22/05/08   46.   GIVE THEM GOLAN AND YOU`LL WITNESS GUSH QATIF REHEARSAL TENFOLD)) 20:38  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 22/05/08   47.   The envelope that launched a peace deal. 20:46  |  Stephen. 22/05/08   48.   Margie in Tel Aviv 20:53  |  Gabe1 22/05/08   49.   Naive editorial from Haaretz 21:06  |  Harry 22/05/08   50.   If the Syrians can`t disconnect themselves from Iran and ... 21:38  |  Amihai 22/05/08   51.   Why should Israel continue them if Iran is dictating Syria? 21:44  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/05/08   52.   Israel is not interested in peace, it is land hungry 21:59  |  Johny 22/05/08   53.   You HAVE to Talk to Them. Talk to Iran Too. 23:56  |  MIKE 22/05/08   54.   For MIKE # 52 06:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/05/08   55.   Fortuna Benmayor #53 06:53  |  MIKE 23/05/08   56.   Offside compass 22:22  |  Ben Menachem 24/05/08

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