Syrian women at Ain al-Tineh village on the Syrian side in the Golan Heights wave to their family in Majdal Shams village, an area occupied by Israel since the 1967 war, in this Feb. 14, 2007 file photo.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli officials on
Wednesday dismissed a statement by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem that
Israel has promised to withdraw from the Golan Heights to the borders drawn
before the 1967 Six Day War, local daily the Jerusalem Post reported.
Shortly after Israel, Syria and Turkey confirmed the
existence of Ankara-mediated peace talks, Moallem said Damascus has received
Israel's commitment for a withdrawal from the highland to the June 4, 1967 line.
However, Israeli officials in Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert's office denied the claim, according to the report, saying "as Olmert has
said in the past, Syria knows what Israel demands of it and Israel knows what
Syria expects it to do."
Meanwhile, another Israeli daily Ha'aretz quoted an
official as saying that Olmert has given Syria a "formula" for the Golan Heights
which the Syrian side wanted, but the details remain secret.
The Golan Heights, a strategic plateau Israel
captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, plays a key role in the peace
process between the two neighbors, which broke off in 2000 when Israel refused
Syria's request for a full withdrawal.
DAMASCUS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Syria and Israel on Wednesday
confirmed in surprise announcements that the two sides were conducting indirect
peace talks through Turkey.
"Syria has started indirect peace talks with Israel
under the auspices of Turkey," a Syrian foreign ministry source was quoted as
saying. Full story
JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Renewed peace talks between
Israel and Syria will not come at the expense of the ongoing negotiations with
the Palestinians, Israeli daily Ha'aretz quoted a senior official as saying on
Wednesday.
"The government remains committed to pursuing both
the Syrian and Palestinian tracks," said the Israeli official, shortly after the
Jewish state confirmed that indirect Israeli-Syrian talks are underway with
Turkish mediation. Full story
JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli officials and
lawmakers on Wednesday uttered mixed voices in response to an official statement
confirming Turkish-brokered peace talks between the Jewish state and Syria is
ongoing.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai, from the
Shas party in the ruling coalition, warned that resuming negotiations with
Damascus could be dangerous, saying Syria remains as part of "the axis of
evil." Full story
