Subscribe to our daily e-mail newsletter

E-mail:

Israel News Feed Or subscribe to our RSS feed | What is RSS?
Israel News from Jerusalem Newswire
Peace Process

Turkey trying to get Israel, Syria into direct talks


By Stan Goodenough
July 02, 2008

Israel and Syria, two states still technically at war with one another, will soon sit down for direct talks aimed at securing a peace agreement between them, according to Turkish foreign ministry officials cited in Arab-language newspapers Wednesday.

Turkey has been acting as middle-man negotiator between officials from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office and Syrian representatives.

At least three rounds of such indirect talks have reportedly been held in recent months, but the next could be face-to-face, said the London-based Al-Hayat.

A decision on direct talks is expected to be taken after July 13, when Syrian dictator Bashar el-Assad is due to attend a special European Union gathering in Paris, France.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is also scheduled to be at the event, though a planned meeting between the two leaders is currently not anticipated.

The Paris conference will see the EU's launching of the new "Union for the Mediterranean" - an idea that stems out of a proposal made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his election campaign.

Sarkozy is believed to see the new initiative - which has been substantially watered down since it was first floated - as a way to promote peace between Israel and the Arab states.

Assad recently called for more European involvement to push Israel into making the concessions the Syrian demands for “peace.”

Syria’s primary demand is for Israel to surrender the Golan Heights, part of Israel’s sovereign territory, which the Syrians used in the past as a platform from which to attack the Jewish state.

Like the article?
Help spread the word:
Jnewswire updates
Never miss another story
  • Inbox already too full?
    Subscribe to our
    RSS feed instead!