Sarkozy told: Fresh Israel-Syria talks unlikely
France seeking to mediate between Jerusalem, Damascus; Syrians imply they prefer Turkey as go-between.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Bashar Assad Nicolas Sarkozy Israel newsA report submitted a few weeks ago to French President Nicolas Sarkozy by two of his top diplomats concludes that there is no chance to renew substantial negotiations between Israel and Syria in the near future, Haaretz has learned. The officials had visited the Middle East recently to investigate the possibility of French mediation between the two countries.
Israeli diplomats and senior Jerusalem officials told Haaretz that the authors of the report were Patrice Paoli, director of the North Africa and Middle East desk at the French Foreign Ministry, and Nicolas Gallas, a special adviser to Sarkozy on Middle East affairs.
The two senior French diplomats visited Israel during the second week of March, which coincided with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit. They met with Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor, National Security Adviser Uzi Arad, and individuals who had been involved in the indirect negotiations with Syria conducted by the Olmert government through Turkish mediation.
In their report, the French diplomats told Sarkozy that they believe meaningful negotiations between Israel and Syria are not possible in the near future due to the two country's considerable mutual suspicion and lack of readiness to make any kind of compromise. In their opinion, Israel is not ready to fully withdraw from the Golan Heights, while Syria is not prepared to cut ties with Iran and Hezbollah.
The meeting held with Arad, who holds the Syrian portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office, seemed to have the strongest impact on the diplomats. A senior Israeli official told Haaretz that Arad stressed to them that Israel will not fully withdraw from the Golan, and even discussed ideas for land exchanges between Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel - at the conclusion of which Israel would retain the Golan.
"After listening to Arad, they realized they were wasting their time and there was no genuine desire in Israel at that stage to progress on the Syrian track," the official said.
The diplomats, however, do not put all of the blame on Israel. They also met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and other Syrian officials, who made it clear to them that Syria had no intention of cutting off its close relationship with Iran. They also denied that Syria was delivering munitions to Hezbollah. The Syrians implied that they would prefer Turkey, rather than France, to mediate.
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in response to two of your points: 1. It is national security issue for USA and Israel should make peace with Syria to help the USA. Unless your loyalties are to Israel, first and USA second. 2. Under international law, Israel is to turn the land back to Syria. Also, as a member of the United Nations (section 7), no member country will keep "real estate" that are spoils of war. The concept that Israel needs to encroach on others' land to create a buffer-safety zone is just wrong.
... running for the safety of home. "even discussed ideas for land exchanges between Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel - at the conclusion of which Israel would retain the Golan." Hahahahahahahah! I can see it now: Arad: A bit of Lebanon goes to Syria, Arad: and some of Jordan goes to Lebanon, Arad: then a bit of Syria goes to Jordan... Frenchies: And Israel???? Arad: Are you stupid? We Keep What We Have! Yep, if I were those dudes I head for the Exit sign right about then..... you know, before Arad started to chew on the carpet and froth at the mouth.
does syria really need it and rather it be in pals hands then israel
Why is Golan a discussion for peace?? The Syrians attacked Israel. Israel in Return fought back. Syrians were pushed back and they lost thier Real Estate. In addition Israel must keep it for security reasons since Syria attacked Israel. When there is WAR and blood is lost in WAR you can't return the land that was lost in WAR for peace if it helps defend your country. Syria cant expect Israel to just give it back. You cant eat the whole pie. Its one sided for Syria, What if Israel lost the WAR whould Syria return land back? You cant attack and loose a WAR then request land back for peace. Syria never thought they would loose this land. Today its strategic for Israel to keep this land to defense itself. Why should Israel take a chance to give it back and place itself in a voulnerable position??
First off, Syria is not a muslim regime. Assad is an alawite not a muslim. Second israel is not a democracy. No democracy treats some of its citizens as second class, none openly exterminate the native people of they land they are on, and lastly, none have a sinister and vile history like israel does, with terrorists becoming presidents.
Turkey as the mediator? You must be joking. A mediator has to be impartial. Putting Turkey to be a mediator between a Muslim dictatorship and a Jewish democracy is like getting Colonel Sanders to defend the rights of chickens.
Due to the provocative war,(Read Gen. DAYAN Account of the 67 war). Syrian Territory was conquered and Occupied. IF Syrians STICK to the Iranians and the HEZBALLAH, HAMAS, is simply BECAUSE of their occupied Territory. OK?? I F Tomorrow there is a GENUINE Peace Between Israel and Syria, then there would be no need for the SYRIANS to be friends with these above named countries. That SIMPLE Mike.
the complete withdrawal from SYRIANS Territory. This is Logical,and does make GOOD Sence. One cannot steal from someone and then asking them to be My friends, in what world exists such a condition. First Withdrawn, then keeping a good relationship, then let SYRIA decides WHO of the TWO.(Israel or Iran is their friend.Yeah!!!!
you did say we should never let a disaster pass uselessly. now that obama has brought our relations with the usa to total disaster kindly use the occasion to explain to the president a new word. that important word is priorities.yes rahm "priorities". spend a couple of hours telling the president with a huge smile on your face for he is quickly insulted that in the scheme of things housing estates for jerusalem is not of earth shattering importance. there are more important things in the universe.
with particular reference to africa the working class can kiss my ass i 've got the foreman's job a last.
now that the president is in power he finds that the sufferings of africa are not sexy.
to obama then the disasters plagues diseases malnutrition water shortage misrule corruption and genocide that is part and parcel of africa. mr president it is only a small housing estate for a few jews.
congo has lost five million killed in the last ten years.move your attention there. the world has overfed the gazans but have left out the vastly poorer yemenis.the latter have 20% of the per capita of gaza and 10% of that ofthe west bank. incidentally how often has obama thought about africa.
...upon Syria's disengaging from the Iran-Hizballah-IslamicJihad-Hamas-Syria Islamist coalition designed to annihilate Israel and erase any trace of Jewish existence in it. Such Peace for Peace will benefit all relevant parties, but it appears that for some peace is not yet - and may never be - the most important goal...!!
How can Syria accept or ask for peace when the Golan is taken? How can Israel claim it wants peace when it wont give back Syria its land
Unlike the West Bank, the Golan has no significant Arab population, apart from four small Druze villages, and the Syrians have lived without it for forty years, (and when they had it they used it for belligerent attacks against Israel.) Let the Palestinians have a state on the west bank with East Jerusalem as their capital, and the Syrian conflict will fade into insignicance. Some solution will be found, and Israel will be allowed to keep the Golan, which has by now become a part of the Israeli interior.
Does Sarkozy honestly believe Syria wants peace with Israel? Does this guy even know the history of conflicts between Israel and Syria?
I realize no not even Obama magic seems to be able to get Israel to return the Golen Heights as Israel continues to renig every time at the last moment and so sound familiar to you and so but keep at it Assad who knows you may finaly get it back RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.
Give us a number O omnipotent one? How much land does Israel have to "give back" in exchange for everlasting peace? Did Israel "occupy" Arab land after they "gave back" Gaza ans the West Bank in 1956 or is your myopic worldview only rooted in 1967?
the west agreed to support the doha accords, giving assad lebanon. it is called giving something for nothing. sarkozy invited assad for a party while assad was arming and supporting all manner of terrorists. assad had just been caught with a nuclear reactor which israel managed to destroy. it is called not understanding history. obama is sending numerous envoys and an embassador to syria. he wants to show just how good he is at diplomacy, unlike the despised bush. assad has reciprocated by calling america weak and clearly refusing to cut his ties with iran and its terror proxies. it is called being naif beyond belief.
After about two years of toeing the line, Syria has finally decided to stick with the Iranians. They refuse to cease support of Hezbollah, although thanks to Iran, Hezbollah really does not need Syria. Syria has done nothing to give the Israelis confidence.
Israel wants peace for return of nothing. Dream on! Time was on Israel's side but I do not think it will be there for long. Israelis got to remember that they live among 300 million Arabs and you figure out the rest! Peace for all. Live and let others live!
The "dumbest" telling the "dumb" what every man who can read and write what we have known for decades
This is a clear as any answer to the question that Gideon Levy has posed on another post: What does Israel want? You've got the answer, Gideon. Too bad for you and others like you.
Syria and Israel will never make peace. Syria will not make peace unless the Golan is returned. Israel will not return the Golan. There is nothing more to say. Israel has mentioned some creative options. My favorite is the one from three years ago in which Syria gives Israel everything they want right now and then Israel will return the Golan after 20 years if Syria is very, very good during that time. In any case, Syria will not fall for any Israeli trickery and Israel doesn't have anything else to offer. Case closed.
Mr. leftist too bad for haaretz you all in haaretz have to get use to what we want in israel you do not like it leave it
Finished patting himself on the back and starting his Socialism Is Good tour of the United States, the US will fade from the world stage. The dollar is toast as the Federal Reserve is the only buyer of treasury bonds. The euro will take over as the world's reserve currency, that's why it was created in the first place. The European Union will decide things from here on out. Good luck Israel, you're gonna need it.
Assad's father kept distance from hezbollah and hamas but syria's assad bragged how after sharon was elected he gave hezbollah long range rockets and built up their bunkers and they planned the killings on the border. Syria also hosts islamic jihad and praised their suicide bombings and syria also went to sudan to praise their leader because he helps with the weapons flow from iran to gaza. Syria also allowed iran to bring in weapons from iran through turkey to syria to hezbollah and also fly into syria to hezbollah.
Syria has let iran bring in weapons to hezbollah and let iran bring in religious elements into the country and iran said a golan would be their victory and they would be with syria on the golan.
That Israel is not ready to withdraw...and that is really the only condition. Israel is so strong that it has no interest in peace.