Region | Palestinian Territories

Israel sets terms for Syria peace deal

Israel, echoing the US position, set out conditions of pursuing a peace deal with Syria, demanding the country shun Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 00:34 May 23, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Israel set terms for concluding a peace deal with Syria on Thursday.
  • Image Credit: AP

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel set terms for concluding a peace deal with Syria on Thursday, closing ranks with Washington in demanding Damascus distance itself from Iran and stop supporting Palestinian and Lebanese fighters.

Coordinated announcements on Wednesday by Israel and Syria that they had begun indirect talks in Turkey, the first confirmation of negotiations between the long-time enemies in eight years, drew a lukewarm response from the United States.

"The Syrians know what we want and we know what they want," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in Occupied Jerusalem.

Syria is demanding the return of the Golan Heights. Syrian Information Minister Mohsin Bilal condemned Israel's setting of any prior conditions. "These conditions have already been rejected as is the phrase 'difficult concessions' as what the Syrians are demanding is their right," Bilal told Al Jazeera TV.

Echoing US comments, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Syria needed to "distance itself completely" from "problematic ties" with Iran. Syria, she told reporters, must also stop "supporting terror - Hezbollah, Hamas," groups backed by the Islamic Republic. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who as prime minister in 2000 took part in talks with Syria that failed over the future of the Golan Heights, said in a speech that both sides would have to make "painful concessions".

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