A high-ranking Israeli official will arrive in Cairo soon to try to move forward negotiations between Israel and Syria, reported the Jordanian newspaper Arab al-Yaum.
A senior Egyptian official stated that plans were being laid for a future meeting to be held between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al Shara, according to the Jordanian daily.
Earlier this month, Syria's Foreign Minister has rejected Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer's call for the resumption of talks between Israel and Syria without preconditions. Al Shara called Ben-Eliezer's proposal as "a manipulation designed to apply pressure on the Palestinians."
The Syrian minister stressed Damascus’ demand that Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights, and also from Palestinian territories. Syria “will not agree to anything other than a just, comprehensive peace, with Israel withdrawing from territories it conquered in 1967, including the Golan Heights, Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and remaining sites in Southern Lebanon, including the Shaba farms. Without this [Israeli withdrawal] negotiations will not be resumed.” (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
