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Last update - 14:10 10/07/2008
Olmert: I can persuade U.S. to sponsor Israel-Syria talks
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Syria, Ehud Olmert 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wants to get the United States involved in the negotiations between Israel and Syria, to persuade President Bashar Assad to advance to direct talks. The U.S. has not been willing until now to become involved, but Olmert said during a Tuesday morning meeting with Italian Foreign minister Franco Frattini that he can persuade President George W. Bush to sponsor the talks.

Frattini recounted conversations with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Moallem, and shared his impression that the Syrians are pleased with the negotiations with Israel. However, Frattini told Olmert he is skeptical that progress is possible in view of Assad's statements in an interview this week with a French newspaper.

Assad told Le Figaro that he does not think Syria will enter direct talks with Israel before the end of Bush's term in the White House. "The most important thing in direct negotiations is who sponsors them," Assad said. "Frankly, we do not think that the current American administration is capable of making peace. It doesn't have either the will or the vision, and only has a few months left."
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Assad added that the next U.S. president will play an important role in peace talks with Israel.

Olmert told Frattini that he thinks Assad is underestimating Bush, and that he can get the current administration on board as a partner and sponsor for the talks. The prime minister emphasized that his own intensions are serious. "The Syrians need to know that now is the time to move forward. There is no reason to wait for anything," he said.

Next Sunday, Olmert and Assad will sit at the same table at the Mediterranean Union summit in Paris, an initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. However, at this stage they are not expected to meet, or even to shake hands.

Freed Druze prisoner: Release all jailed Golan residents

Security prisoner Sitan a-Wahli, a resident of the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, used his release from jail on Wednesday to urge the Syrian government to demand that all Golan prisoners be freed as a precondition for direct negotiations.

"We, the prisoners of the Golan, believe that the Syrian leadership in Damascus should demand to free the prisoners of the occupied Golan as a precondition to all direct negotiations with the State of Israel, just as the Palestinian prisoners expect that from the issue," A-Wahli told Haaretz.

A-Wahli, 42, was granted an early release from prison on account of illness, after serving 23 years for his involvement in a plot to strike Israeli targets in the Golan Heights during the 1980s. He was originally sentenced to 27 years.

A festive reception was organized in Majdal Shams for A-Wahli's return. It took place in the village's main square, with the most symbolic moment occurring when A-Wahli kissed the Syrian flag 23 times.

"I am very happy about my release, but I will never forget the other prisoners that remain behind, under lock and key, especially the prisoners from the occupied Golan Heights and Jerusalem and from within the Green Line."

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      1.   Olmert is loooney tunes 03:22  |  Great White North 10/07/08
      2.   trade olmert? 03:30  |  Mark 10/07/08
      3.   America should not get involved 03:36  |  Brod 10/07/08
      4.   olmert who represents nobody will do anything for a nobel prize 04:12  |  zionist forever 10/07/08
      5.   Assad Would be Wise to Wait for GW to Leave Office 04:22  |  Johan Odin 10/07/08
      6.   Well with this kind of upbeat reflection by PM Olmert... 04:41  |  Smadar 10/07/08
      7.   What about Shalit 04:50  |  Great White North 10/07/08
      8.   Bush is Much Smarter than the Palmgreaser 06:10  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/07/08
      9.   Assad 06:17  |  Eugenio 10/07/08
      10.   Tactics from both on the short term 06:43  |  Steve the Pals. 10/07/08
      11.   Just Itching to give away the GOLAN..... 08:15  |  Dagma 10/07/08
      12.   "Why Wait"....I need to save my job!! 08:47  |  Jewish State 10/07/08
      13.   Olmert spins his web to catch the hapless Bush once again 09:37  |  Natallie Durson 10/07/08
      14.   IT IS AMAZING everyone will agree..... 09:40  |  Dolly 10/07/08
      15.   Olmert: "I can get Bush to bla-bla-bla........" 10:21  |  Esther 10/07/08
      16.   BUSH IS THE WORST ENEMY FOR MUSLIMS AND ARAB WORLD 10:48  |  indrajaya 10/07/08
      17.   To Mark # 2 - WHO would even want Olmert? 11:06  |  Natasha 10/07/08
      18.   Get Syria to admit Golan is Israel 11:30  |  Baruch Gold 10/07/08
      19.   Olmert 11:33  |  Ralph 10/07/08
      20.   Sodom and Gomorrah/Israel Deserves its Leaders 11:45  |  Lev Bronstein 10/07/08
      21.   FAMILIES ......... of Israel 11:52  |  Dagma 10/07/08
      22.   To Lev Bronstein # 20 - Peace. 12:24  |  The Pathfinder 10/07/08
      23.   US Sponsosrhip == Failure of Talks 12:24  |  MiddleStanian 10/07/08
      24.   Olmert is an excellent fund-raiser: first Talansky now Bush! 12:46  |  AY 10/07/08
      25.   `Bush is smarter than Olmert`.I usu agree w Tod;TOO CLOSE TO CALL 12:48  |  Elliot 10/07/08
      26.   Diversion & Unity of Contradictions. 12:50  |  Akram Zekaria 10/07/08
      27.   There can never be a `Palestinian State` 12:53  |  justiceforall 10/07/08
      28.   What makes Olmert trust Syria? 13:09  |  AY 10/07/08
      29.   Olmert is under investigation and should be excused to act as PM! 13:22  |  AY 10/07/08
      30.   How low can your government get 14:07  |  Dave 10/07/08
      31.   #20 Lev Bronstein and the Russian Revolution 14:17  |  AY 10/07/08
      32.   28# AY A better question `What makes Olmert trust himself` ? 14:28  |  Akram Zekaria 10/07/08
      33.   America and Lame Duck 14:34  |  Brod 10/07/08
      34.   #32 Akram: right! 14:51  |  AY 10/07/08
      35.   To AY # 24 - Olmert an excellent Fund-raiser 14:54  |  Josephus 10/07/08
      36.   To indrajaya 16 - Bush the Worst enemy of the Muslims? 15:19  |  Onlooker 10/07/08
      37.   To # 16 indrajaya - The Worst Enemy of the Muslims 15:53  |  Dagma 10/07/08
      38.   34# AY. I can`t agree with you more on both of your two posts. 16:31  |  Akram Zekaria 10/07/08
      39.   Olmert who is asking you to? All we want is for you to leave 17:57  |  living in Rishon 10/07/08
      40.   There is no business like show business !! 18:02  |  jack 10/07/08
      41.   Olmert advertising his lack of understanding 18:28  |  Tosefta 10/07/08
      42.   Reply to #25 (Elliott) 19:52  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/07/08
      43.   alchemist olmert: i can turn shite into gold 20:09  |  frenz 10/07/08
      44.   indrajabber 16 20:15  |  frenz 10/07/08
      45.   #41 Tosefta re: moving forward with Syria... 20:47  |  Smadar 10/07/08
      46.   You can persuade, convince and manipulate Mr Olmert 21:21  |  Dolly 10/07/08
      47.   Why doesn`t Olmert persuade himself to quit already ??? 21:40  |  Harry 10/07/08
      48.   AY # 28 did god give you guys a deed to the land? can we see it? 22:52  |  American in NY 10/07/08
      49.   Tosefta # 41 23:04  |  American in NY 10/07/08
      50.   #48 ANY 23:44  |  AY 10/07/08
      51.   Smadar #45 00:13  |  Tosefta 11/07/08
      52.   American in NY #49 00:20  |  Tosefta 11/07/08
      53.   Bush Is Smarter 00:25  |  Ron 11/07/08
      54.   Olmert/Israeli Leaders EAGER to give ENEMY Syria - the Golan 01:53  |  Linda Rivera 11/07/08
      55.   Israel need US aid to get rid of Olmert and of the Left 02:02  |  Frank 11/07/08
      56.   JEWISH REFUGEES Must Have Justice 02:06  |  Linda Rivera 11/07/08
      57.   Yeah, just how much persuasion does it take... 02:12  |  Maureen Ann 11/07/08
      58.   #42 Tod:I know @Kurtzer and Obama; will America wake-up in time? 04:18  |  Elliot 11/07/08
      59.   Hangin` on the coat tails 10:11  |  Jim 11/07/08
      60.   #54 Linda Rivera 10:24  |  Jim 11/07/08
      61.   Baruch Gold Illegal Settler 10:24  |  wibism 11/07/08
      62.   Jim #60 14:04  |  Brod 11/07/08
      63.   PM Olmert shoud be in prison not persuading USA 14:19  |  Yossi Cronenberg 11/07/08
      64.   #16 IF BUSH IS SUCH A PUPPET OF ZIONIST THEN HOW COME HE HAS 17:46  |  glenna 11/07/08
      65.   we can only hope and pray that bush stays away from any talks.. 18:28  |  glenna 11/07/08
      66.   A classic! (AiNY, #28) 20:32  |  Morris Valentine 11/07/08
      67.   Tosefta, are you serious? (Your note to AiNY) 20:42  |  Morris Valentine 11/07/08
      68.   Morris #65 21:50  |  american in NY 11/07/08
      69.   the looser`s clan 00:40  |  jean marie 14/07/08