Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 08, 2008 Tamuz 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:19 (EST+7) 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

Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP) Last update - 16:13 06/07/2008 Former top Israeli diplomat says Syria ready to cut Iran ties By Haaertz Service Tags: Peace Negotiations, Iran  A former senior Israeli diplomat has asserted that Syria is willing to cut its close relations with Iran in return for financial and military backing from the United States, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Alon Liel, a former director general of the foreign ministry, told the British newspaper that Syrian President Bashar Assad is increasingly open to a peace deal with Israel which would greatly weaken Iran's influence in the Middle East. The Sunday Telegraph reported that Liel - who has been engaged in low-key "second track" discussions with Syrian representatives for many months - has said the prospect of an agreement with Syria was growing, though a new U.S. president might be necessary before a deal could be finalized. Advertisement The official's comments came after Syria held a third round of indirect negotiations with Israel in Turkey this week. A Turkish government source said Thursday that both sides had agreed to hold a fourth round of indirect negotiations in Turkey in late July. "They are asking not only for the Golan Heights but a change in Washington that will break the Syrian isolation internationally," Liel told the Sunday Telegraph. "But I also think they will not do it unless they are assured they have an alternative to Iran." Agreement on the future of the Golan, captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, is seen as a prerequisite for any peace accord between the longtime foes. Related articles: Syria tells UN: Israel is burying nuclear waste in Golan Heights Syria sends minister to Iran after shock revelation of Israel talks Hamas: Olmert too weak to negotiate peace agreement with Syria Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prisoner exchange Israel signs swap deal, begins exhuming bodies of Hezbollah guerillas. Provocative questions Gaydamak tells TAU student to 'shut up and go to hell' over Angola question.   1.   Syria`s relationship with Iran. 10:41  |  Jean Van Daem 06/07/08   2.   Good News. Syria Will be a Great bridge with Israel 12:27  |  Markus 06/07/08   3.   Buffalo droppings, hot and steaming 12:58  |  Clickfool 06/07/08   4.   Syria´s efforts to save itself from the sinking ship 13:20  |  AY 06/07/08   5.   AY you`ve got it wrong 14:18  |  Dan 06/07/08   6.   Um clickfool... 15:04  |  Matt 06/07/08   7.   No change in Syria`s relationship with Iran. 15:13  |  Jean Van Daem 06/07/08   8.   Policy is say anything to promote a false agreement 15:23  |  Ilan 06/07/08   9.   Syria- forward with the West or backward with Iran 15:53  |  Sam 06/07/08   10.   Syria and Iran sign intelligence treaty - Debka Files 16:05  |  Sadiq M 06/07/08   11.   Syria will never cut ties with Iran =this is typical Olmert lie 16:21  |  ROB GOTTESMAN 06/07/08   12.   Falling for this CRAP 16:26  |  Brod 06/07/08   13.   Falling for this CRAP 16:31  |  Brod 06/07/08   14.   BULL S 16:33  |  DANIEL 06/07/08   15.   There is somebody of somebody who somehow 16:55  |  Kris Lazar 06/07/08   16.   #5 DAN, if I were an Israeli General 17:18  |  AY 06/07/08   17.   The powerful Iran is pushing Israel to accept the 1967 borders 17:22  |  Aounist 06/07/08   18.   Nonsense 17:27  |  Jane 06/07/08   19.   LIES, LIES & MORE LIES!!!! DECEPTIVE DIPLOMACY = BEWARE!!! 17:31  |  Ben Uziel 06/07/08   20.   #5 DAN: danger lurking where you the least expect it 17:31  |  AY 06/07/08   21.   Politic 17:39  |  zako 06/07/08   22.   To Markus 17:50  |  Frank 06/07/08   23.   LIES, LIES and more LIES 18:22  |  Ben Uziel 06/07/08   24.   To Clickfool (#3) 19:40  |  Morris Valentine 06/07/08   25.   Jane #12 Right on Target 19:46  |  Brod 06/07/08   26.   Israel should deploy nuclear missiles on Golan 20:02  |  Jewboy 06/07/08   27.   Syria needs Iran 20:07  |  Irani 06/07/08   28.   Actually Aounist Iran has more success supporting Syria pre-1916 20:19  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/07/08   29.   Why does Syria need any military backing? 20:28  |  McQueen 06/07/08   30.   What utter Rubbish....... 21:03  |  Dagma 06/07/08   31.   Syria, never trust Israel Gov. 21:13  |  Dav 06/07/08   32.   THE ETERNAL CRY,BAKSHEESH,BAKSHEESH!! 21:14  |  Ian 06/07/08   33.   sure just give him the Golan heights and he will adopt Hatikva 21:39  |  no former senior isr 06/07/08   34.   Syrian Baath Party & Assad Family 21:56  |  Dan 06/07/08   35.   Flabbergasted! 22:09  |  Chas. 06/07/08   36.   all crap but if it were true everybody would loose but Syria 22:35  |  zionist forever 06/07/08   37.   I do not believe a word of it 22:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/07/08   38.   Better to kill Isrealies with 00:01  |  Fred 07/07/08   39.   petrodollars 00:11  |  Gregor 07/07/08   40.   Persian-Arabs 00:14  |  Nima 07/07/08   41.   Ian # 32 Israel is the one with outsretched hand 01:44  |  American in NY 07/07/08   42.   #41 STRAIGHT FROM DER STURMER 02:49  |  Ian 07/07/08   43.   #26, JEWBOY shows no logic once again, sigh... 04:17  |  VIPER 07/07/08   44.   Nice Looking Man 07:46  |  Yosemite 07/07/08   45.   Ian # 42 straight from Mein Kampf 5th try 04:40  |  American in NY 08/07/08

Read & React Barak outlaws 36 NGOs for Hamas fundraising Responses: 160 Akiva Eldar: Terrorist reflected mood of thousands in J'lem Responses: 80 Yehuda Ben Meir: For a united J'lem, spare the terrorist's home Responses: 46 Israel to exhume bodies of Hezbollah men ahead of swap Responses: 33 Rosner's Domain Take military option off the table! (WTR) New Poll: What should Obama do about Iraq? On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless How good/bad is Obama's faith based initiative (WTR) Back to Vietnam More Headlines 03:41 Israel signs swap deal, begins exhuming bodies of Hezbollah guerillas 00:44 ANALYSIS / Ron Arad info crucial in advancing Hezbollah deal 01:22 Assad: Direct talks with Israel only after Bush leaves office 04:03 U.S. analyst: Mullen made clear Israel has no 'green light' to attack Iran 05:02 Israeli Olympic swimmer suspected of taking performance-enhancing drugs 03:33 Iran urges UN to help free kidnapped diplomats 02:51 Nazi hunters arrive in Chile seeking Mauthausen 'Dr. Death' 02:53 Kinneret hits red line, endangering water quality 02:09 Accidents on Ayalon Freeway plummet after billboards removed 02:37 Russian-born U.S. billionaire offers to buy Ma'ariv 19:18 Ahmadinejad: Israel and U.S. won't dare attack Iran 18:13 Just 10 of 66,000 Holocaust survivors' heirs get assets back 22:26 Italy to expel Palestinian who took part in Achille Lauro cruise hijacking 23:24 Israel to close Gaza crossings Tuesday in wake of mortar fire Previous Editions Select Day 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ 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