Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., November 03, 2009 Cheshvan 16, 5770 | | Israel Time: 22:50 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 21:32 28/10/2009
Barak: Peace with Syria is central to regional agreement
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday responded positively to remarks by Syrian President Bashar Assad, who declared that Syria was ready to resume peace talks with Israel, saying that peace with Syria is pivotal in the path toward regional peace.

"Peace with Syria is a major building block of any stable regional agreement. Israel has sought in the past, and will continue to seek ways to promote peace with Syria," Barak declared in a statement.

"However," he added, "responsible behavior on behalf of the Syrians, as well as Hezbollah, is required in order to prevent the dangers of conflict in the region."
Advertisement

Earlier Wednesday, during a meeting with Croatian President Stipe Mesic, the Syrian president urged European nations to facilitate his country's peace talks with Israel by providing a suitable third party negotiator.

"As far as it concerns us in Syria we have national support to continue talks with Israel," Assad said.

"We call on European countries to also give their contribution, to help Turkey but also us to be able to resume from where we have stopped," the Syrian leader added.

The last four rounds of talks with Syria were held by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert's government last year, under Turkish mediation.

Syria froze contact with Israel in protest of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip last winter. Negotiations have been frozen since.

Earlier this month Syria said it was willing to resume the Turkish-mediated talks if they focus on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is not willing to cede the territory Syria wants.

Israel's relations with Turkey have been strained recently, with harsh criticism in Israel over Turkey's cancellation of its participation in a joint international military drill.

Following the cancellation of the drill Israeli officials said that while the negotiations with Syria should continue, they should not be handled by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey on the other hand was willing to resume its role as mediator between the two countries.

The previous talks have focused on the question of the Golan Heights, a territory which the Syrian government seeks. Israel wants a peace deal including diplomatic recognition by Syria and other political concessions.

But Israel has said Syria does not want a peace deal and has demanded Damascus stop insisting on the return of the Golan as a precondition for talks.

Earlier this year, Assad played down prospects of resuming talks, saying Syria did not "have a partner."

Related articles:
  • Turkey: Syria will accept only us as mediator in Israel talks
  • Syria protests Israel's gift of Golan wine to UN staff
  • Saudi King to make rare visit to Syria for talks on Mideast peace
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Perils of anti-Semitism
    Is the West ignoring Islamist hatred of Jews as much as it did Nazi manifestations?
    From Iran to Hamas
    Hamas has reportedly test-fired a missile - supplied by Iran - capable of hitting Tel Aviv.
      1.   An easy and cheap shot 20:15  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      2.   Ustashe and Mukhabarat 20:24  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/10/09
      3.   Assad, enough with the Golan already. It is a non-starter. 20:30  |  4:20 28/10/09
      4.   Israel is the oppressed 20:43  |  syrian opinion 28/10/09
      5.   #2, Fortuna, agree completely 21:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      6.   better without peace than without golan 21:14  |  Dave 28/10/09
      7.   ISRAEL X SYRIA, HIZBALON, GAZA 21:30  |  Ricardo Ibrahim 28/10/09
      8.   Dear Assad... 21:37  |  Yosemite 28/10/09
      9.   No return of the Golan and no return of Judea and the west bank. 21:43  |  Petra 28/10/09
      10.   Barak: Peace with Syria is central to regional agreement 22:11  |  Shlomo Israel 28/10/09
      11.   #2, you worry about Haaretz not accepting 22:12  |  bob 28/10/09
      12.   Peace with Syria 22:15  |  Brod 28/10/09
      13.   Astonishing replies from Cipora and chums 22:22  |  r cummings 28/10/09
      14.   Syria is not willing to make sacrifices for peace 22:32  |  David G 28/10/09
      15.   Men of Peace 22:38  |  SMF 28/10/09
      16.   Interestingly and dramatically stated, Fortuna #2... 22:42  |  Esther 28/10/09
      17.   #13, cummings, answer 22:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      18.   Barak: Peace with Syria is central to regional agreement 22:59  |  Joshua 28/10/09
      19.   #16, Esther 23:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      20.   Peace with Syria 23:15  |  sam 28/10/09
      21.   who did you say doesnt want peace??!! 00:19  |  syrian opinion 29/10/09
      22.   assad 01:08  |  Yaron 29/10/09
      23.   syria 01:16  |  doubter 29/10/09
      24.   Zionists listen up; 01:27  |  bob 29/10/09
      25.   to #15: negotiations between Syria and the Kurds 02:08  |  Moxie Heller 29/10/09
      26.   YOU LOT MAKE ME LAUGH 05:00  |  VIPER 29/10/09
      27.   We must see some justure from Syria first 05:21  |  Yosi 29/10/09
      28.   It is very simple, but greedy Israelis complicate it 05:27  |  Roger 29/10/09
      29.   syria WILL get the golan back eventually... 06:06  |  eric 29/10/09
      30.   Talkback Comments 06:21  |  AM 29/10/09
      31.   OCCUPATION OF GOLAN AND WEST BANK 06:59  |  ISSA 29/10/09
      32.   Water from Golan key to peace deal for Israel 07:36  |  Bloodyscot 29/10/09
      33.   Question. Is why The Syrians are unfriendly with Israelis 14:43  |  Moez J 29/10/09
      34.   # 9 Petra is wrong Again 16:22  |  Stephen 29/10/09
      35.   #33 22:39  |  syrian opinion 03/11/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    22:31 Police arrest new suspect in 'Jewish terrorist' case
    19:38 Israel urges West: Reject Goldstone report at UN
    19:43 Sources: Iran gave Hamas missile that can hit Tel Aviv
    21:26 Germany: Iran threat to Israel is a threat to West
    22:37 Britain: Israeli settlements are 'illegal' and 'obstacle' to peace
    21:50 Settlers force Palestinians out of East Jerusalem home
    20:04 Swedish reporter repeats IDF organ theft allegations, this time in Israel
    22:04 TV ROUND-UP: Hamas missile can reach Tel Aviv, 'Taliban mother' sentenced to prison
    20:59 Israel pulls TV ad inviting public to take part in Kahane memorial
    20:54 Memo to Jewish haters of Liberals: The Middle Ages are over
    19:53 Israel Unposed / Tanks, prayers, kosher wine
    21:29 What does Michelle Obama's style say about the woman and the White House?
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    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