Post by Salem6 on May 21, 2008 9:18:11 GMT
Israel and Syria have said they are holding indirect talks to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.
Israel and Syria remain technically at war over the Golan Heights
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said both sides were talking "in good faith and openly".
The Syrian foreign ministry also confirmed the Turkish-mediated talks, the first since 2000.
The last round of negotiations broke down because of disagreement over the extent of Israel's possible withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
"The two sides indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to achieve complete peace," said spokesman Mark Regev.
In a statement, Syria's foreign ministry said: "Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in goodwill and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace."
In April, it was reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was mediating in talks between the two sides, who are still technically at war over the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israeli opposition
The Syrian foreign minister, Walid Muallem, has said Israel has now agreed to withdraw from the Golan up to the armistice line of 1967.
Israel has refused to comment on the claim, but a spokesman for Mr Olmert said the current talks were being carried out with the failure of the previous ones in mind, and that they had recently gathered momentum.
Analysts say that, in return for any withdrawal, Israel would demand Syria sever its ties with Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
However, they add that withdrawal from the Golan would not be popular with Israelis.
The reports in April of talks sparked outrage in the Israeli parliament, where several MPs said they would try to accelerate the passage of a bill requiring any withdrawal from the Golan to be dependent on a referendum.
Mr Olmert is currently battling corruption allegations, and the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the prime minister's critics believe the confirmation of peace talks may be an attempt to divert some attention from that.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7412247.stm
Israel and Syria remain technically at war over the Golan Heights
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said both sides were talking "in good faith and openly".
The Syrian foreign ministry also confirmed the Turkish-mediated talks, the first since 2000.
The last round of negotiations broke down because of disagreement over the extent of Israel's possible withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
"The two sides indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to achieve complete peace," said spokesman Mark Regev.
In a statement, Syria's foreign ministry said: "Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in goodwill and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace."
In April, it was reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was mediating in talks between the two sides, who are still technically at war over the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israeli opposition
The Syrian foreign minister, Walid Muallem, has said Israel has now agreed to withdraw from the Golan up to the armistice line of 1967.
Israel has refused to comment on the claim, but a spokesman for Mr Olmert said the current talks were being carried out with the failure of the previous ones in mind, and that they had recently gathered momentum.
Analysts say that, in return for any withdrawal, Israel would demand Syria sever its ties with Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
However, they add that withdrawal from the Golan would not be popular with Israelis.
The reports in April of talks sparked outrage in the Israeli parliament, where several MPs said they would try to accelerate the passage of a bill requiring any withdrawal from the Golan to be dependent on a referendum.
Mr Olmert is currently battling corruption allegations, and the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the prime minister's critics believe the confirmation of peace talks may be an attempt to divert some attention from that.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7412247.stm