Syria Ready to Renew Talks

It is reported today that Syria has asked the US to inform Israel that it is ready to renew the channel of indirect peace negotiations via Turkey.

The Turkish Foreign Minister told US officials that Damascus wishes to pick up from where the sides left off. Talks were suspended in December 2008 when both Syria and Israel advised Turkey that they are not interested in pursuing a further round of talks. The reason given at the time was the upcoming Israeli general election. It was suggested by both parties that talks could resume after a new leader was in office in Israel.

In October 2008, Syria produced a document which referred to six contested points. It was suggested that resolution of these points could produce a peace agreement. Syria drafted a subsequent document which set out boundaries for the Golan Heights. Syria had been awaiting an Israeli response to its documents via the Turkish mediators.

Relations between Israel and Turkey soured during the course of Gazan Operation Cast Lead. This came to a head at the Davos World Economic Forum meeting when Turkish Prime Minister angrily shouted accusations at Israeli President Shimon Peres. This led to speculation that Turkish mediation in the talks between Israel and Syria would not continue.

US Mideast envoy George Mitchell is expected to raise the resumption of the Syrian track in his meetings with Israeli leaders this week. He is expected to continue onward to meetings in Lebanon and Syria after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.