Syrian-Israeli 'talks may be deemed victory for Bashar'

Occupied Jerusalem: At 11.45am on Wednesday the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert allowed the release of a statement officially announcing the existence of indirect peace negotiations with Syria through a Turkish mediator.

Sources from the Prime Minister's office told Gulf News the announcement was made by both Damascus and Ankara according to a prior agreement.

"The statement was dramatic, especially as it is the first time the Israeli government has declared negotiations with Syria to reach a peace agreement," Akiva Aldar, an Israeli political analyst, told Gulf News.

He added that "Syrian President Bashar Al Assad had waited seven years for this Israeli announcement, which may be considered his victory."

According to the released Israeli statement, the move came after the two parties pledged to enter serious negotiations to reach a peace agreement between Israel and Syria according to the Madrid Conference, launched in 1991.

Clear vision

Consequently, both the head of Olmert's office and his political advisor have been in Ankara since early this week to resume negotiations, hoping to achieve progress, "especially as everyone is heading towards the negotiating table with open eyes and a clear vision of what must be done," added Israeli sources.

According to the same sources, Olmert had briefed both his Minister of Defence and the Foreign Affairs department about the statement before the announcement.

On the Syrian level, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mua'alem said yesterday that Damascus had received commitments for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan up to the June 4, 1967 border during Turkish-brokered indirect talks.

"We received commitments for a withdrawal from the Golan to the June 4, 1967 line," Mua'alem told AFP during a visit to Bahrain.

"This is not new. It started since Yitzhak Rabin's [the slain Israeli prime minister] pledge for a total pullout in 1993, and all subsequent Israeli prime ministers abided by it," he said.

Rabin gave a verbal undertaking of a full withdrawal from the Golan. But subsequent Israeli prime ministers baulked at accepting the Syrian demand as a precondition to talks as the undertaking had not been given in writing.

The last round of formal negotiations broke down in 2000. Mua'alem said the indirect talks had taken place in Turkey.

"Indirect talks began in Turkey with Turkish mediation in a bid to pave the ground for the resumption of direct negotiations aimed at achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region," Mua'alem said.

However, the Israeli statement was met with dissenting voices in Israel. Israeli Minister Zaiif Boim, member of the Israeli Ministerial Council, rejected pulling out of the occupied Golan Heights under any condition.

Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud Party said Olmert was ready to sell Israel for his personal interest.