Syria welcome in Israel - Peres

[DoYouEverWonder]

10 October 2006

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria was welcome to come to Jerusalem for peace talks, Israel's deputy prime minister, Shimon Peres, has said.

"If he says 'I want a meeting', I am sure Israel will say 'Very well, let us meet and talk'", Mr Peres said.

President Assad said on Monday that Syria would be prepared to hold talks.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert distanced himself from Mr Peres's remarks. The invitation, his spokesman said, was not issued on his behalf.

In his television interview, Mr Peres, referring to Egypt's historic peace treaty with Israel in 1978, said: "Why can't Assad do what others have done? Sadat came here." 'Axis of evil'

Peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down six years ago, after Syria demanded that Israel hand over the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since the 1967 war.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6039076.stm


I hope Peres can make this work.


( The 'Axis of evil' near the end of the 5th paragraph is how it appears on the BBC site. It makes no sense in the context of the report.)

[bemildred]

1. Peres is blowing smoke.

It isn't Assad that doesn't want to talk.

[razors edge]

2. You know it

Olmert: Syria peace overtures are a ploy

snip
Olmert has rejected talks with Syria, accusing it of harboring terrorists and saying he will not relinquish the Golan.

"As long as I am prime minister, the Golan Heights will remain in our hands," he was quoted as telling the ultra-Orthodox weekly Mishpaha last month.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061010/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_syria;_ylt=ArHG76oAJNWcidI5bn6uOgxvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

[IndianaGreen]

3. If Israel is willing to talk to Syria, why can't Bush?

The biggest obstacle to peace is the Bush regime's apocalyptic approach to foreign policy. The assholes really think they can force the Almighty's hand by bringing about Armageddon.

[muryan]

4. Im fairly certain that Assad

does not want to suffer the same fate as al-Sadat. Just my two cents