Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., June 20, 2008 Sivan 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 23:18 19/06/2008
Barak: Only U.S. can advance Israel-Syria talks
By News Agencies
Tags: Walid Moallem, Israel 

Israel and Syria are unlikely to hold direct peace negotiations before the end of the year, especially without the involvement of the United States, Defense Minister Ehud Barak was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Barak told French newspaper Le Monde that indirect talks between the neighboring countries, which are currently being mediated by Turkey, amounted to "preliminary contacts", not negotiations.

"I don't think we will have negotiations before the end of this year without the contribution of the Americans, who, alone, can help bridge the gaps," he said, adding he believed the United States would get involved in the future.
Advertisement
But he said a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar Assad could provide a psychological boost that could move the process forward.

The interview, published in French, came ahead of a visit to Israel next week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and amid speculation Olmert and Assad may meet during a summit of European and Mediterranean leaders to be held on July 13 in Paris.

Also Thursday, Syrian President BasharAssad said he needed to see more progress in Turkey-mediated indirect peace talks with Israel before he agrees to a meeting with Olmert.

In India on a four-day visit, Assad said "this is not like drinking tea," when asked if he would meet Olmert in Paris.

"The meeting between me and the Israeli prime minister will be meaningless without the technocrats laying the foundation, without reaching the final stage."

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem was quoted in Thursday editions of the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat as saying there were no plans for the two leaders to shake hands during the Paris summit.

Assad and Olmert are expected to attend the Mediterranean Union Summit slated for July 13 to launch a French-proposed economic alliance between Europe and countries on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, including Syria and Israel.

"Arrangements for the launch of the union include no handshake," Moallem, speaking in India, where he is currently visiting, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

Israel and Syria concluded a second round of indirect peace talks on Monday and agreed to continue the negotiations over the fate of the Golan Heights in July.

Israeli officials have repeatedly said a peace deal depends on Damascus distancing itself from Iran and severing ties with groups such as Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Both groups are supported by Iran and Syria, which hosts a number of Palestinian factions opposed to existing Palestinian-Israeli peace accords.

Assad has dismissed Israeli demands the country abandon its alliance with Iran and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as a requirement for peace.

Calling the Turkey-mediated talks "some glimmer of hope", Assad said the Israeli government needed do more if it wanted a meeting between him and Olmert.

"Only sending signals without real result is meaningless," he said. "The last few weeks we had some glimmer of hope after indirect negotiations with the help of Turkey."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Tuesday that Israel and Syria would hold a new round of indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey in July after two earlier rounds of indirect talks ended successfully.

The last direct talks - between then Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara - stalled in 2000 in a dispute over how much of the Golan Heights should go back to Syria.

Damascus is firm in demanding all the Golan.

Moallem denied that France was pressing Syria to enter into direct talks with Israel.

"President Assad said in many media interviews and in meetings with (foreign) leaders it was difficult to move into the direct talks stage before agreeing on bases and elements of peace," the minister said.

"The second round of indirect talks ended two days ago. It will be followed by more rounds until we reach suitable bases to start direct talks," Moallem added.

Related articles:
  • Olmert to French daily: Israel, Syria not far from direct talks
  • Peres in Jordan: Palestinian, Syrian tracks shouldn't affect each other
  • Will Olmert and Assad be sitting together at the same table?
  • Katsav blasted over handshake with Khatami
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fragile cease-fire
    Olmert: Gaza cease-fire is fragile, may be short lived.
    Unbalanced stance
    Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance.
      1.   Syria would have to extricate itself from the coalition that 14:08  |  Aviv 19/06/08
      2.   No tickee no shakee 14:23  |  Ramius 19/06/08
      3.   They waged the war and they lost it but talk like the Lord himsel 16:07  |  Jew- and Bookburner 19/06/08
      4.   UNBALANCED & INSECURE ASSAD jr. 16:44  |  Heinrich Pestalozzi 19/06/08
      5.   THE DICTATOR DICTATING HIS TERMS TO ISRAEL 16:57  |  Ben Uziel 19/06/08
      6.   Don’t be fooled, Arabs don’t need land, they have plenty of it. 18:16  |  RW 19/06/08
      7.   A couple of months and Olmert is out; hurry up 18:31  |  Pervert 19/06/08
      8.   RH understands, few in Israel get it. 20:56  |  Shmuel 19/06/08
      9.   Barak: Only the U.S? 21:11  |  Jim 19/06/08
      10.   #1 Aviv Iran SchmIran! 21:37  |  Jim 19/06/08
      11.   Ehud Barak - same old same old 21:47  |  ussishkin 19/06/08
      12.   Israel/Syria Talks? They can wait...... 22:08  |  Natasha 19/06/08
      13.   Olmert is a traitor 22:41  |  Northern 19/06/08
      14.   Total BS If Israel wants peace it does NOT need the US 01:49  |  American in NY 20/06/08
      15.   US ONLY 03:37  |  azad 20/06/08
      16.   #12 Natasha 03:49  |  Jim 20/06/08
      17.   #13 Northern 04:06  |  Jim 20/06/08
      18.   #6 RW Wierds of wisdom 04:22  |  Jim 20/06/08
      19.   Grasping at straws 05:14  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/08
      20.   Israel and the US have exactly the same problem 05:17  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/08
      21.   Only The Specialist knows how to help 05:35  |  Shimon Cleopas 20/06/08
     Read & React
    Bradley Burston: Peace dead? Send us your own plan!
    Responses: 132
    U.S., Canada warn Hezbollah set to strike Jewish targets, report says
    Responses: 172
    Report: Israel held drill as prep for attack on Iran
    Responses: 148
    Messianic Jews: Police indifferent to threats against us
    Responses: 72
    Rosner's Domain
    Will we see a record number of Jewish lawmakers? (2)
    Comparing Obama and Chamberlain (WTR)
    Guests: intermarried Jews are more distant from Israel
    The Joe Lieberman dilemma
    Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for...


    More Headlines
    18:23 Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce
    18:23 Three Israeli hikers hurt in shooting attack near Ramallah
    14:45 Report: Israel held military drill as prep for attack on Iran
    19:09 Tzvi Regev: We are on the verge of a deal with Hezbollah
    18:29 N.Y. Mayor urges Jewish voters to denounce Obama Muslim rumors
    17:59 Austrian politician: Suspected Nazi is 'treasured citizen'
    10:26 U.S., Canada warn Hezbollah set to hit Jewish targets, report says
    12:09 Israel's Messianic Jews: Police indifferent to threats against us
    13:31 Jerusalem officials to High Court: Gay parade desecrates holy city
    14:43 Israel attempting to scuttle $400 million U.S.-Lebanon arms deal
    11:43 French education panel advises against Sarkozy's Holocaust studies program
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Holyland Park
    Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury
    In the heart of Tel-Aviv
    The Meier on Rothschild tower
    Jerusalem of Gold
    Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Free Hebrew Private Lesson
    www.iStudyHebrew.com
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    http://www.pardes.org.il/
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved