Ehud Barak rules out full negotiations with Syria in 2008

Date: 20 / 06 / 2008 Time: 23:48
Bethelehem – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation government defense minister, Ehud Barak, on Thursday ruled out the possibility of full peace negotiations between Israel and Syria before the end of 2008, or without the involvement of the United States.

During his visit to France, which is expected to host the leaders of Israel and Syria in the context of a regional summit in July, Barak said that the current indirect talks mediated by Turkey between the two enemy states represent "initial contacts" which may lead to peace negotiations in 2009.

He told the French newspaper Le Monde, "I do not think that we will begin negotiations before the end of this year. There will be no negotiations without US involvement, since the Americans are the only ones who might be able to help in bridging the gaps." Barak added that he thinks the US will participate in the future.

On the other hand, he said that holding a summit between the Israeli occupation government prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad, might give a psychological push to move the process forward.

In his statements to reporters, Barak described the Turkish mediation as "initial contacts to check whether peace negotiations may be possible…this stage could take place next year."

Barak added to Le Monde that despite the great strategic advantages of keeping the Golan Heights, Israel is "ready to examine the possibility of ending" its occupation of the Golan. Israel occupied the Golan after capturing it from Syria in the 1967 war.

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