Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Syrian guest to Knesset says secret negotiations needed
Ynet ^ | 04.12.07, 14:47 | Amnon Meranda

Posted on 04/12/2007 6:35:28 AM PDT by Esther Ruth

Syrian guest to Knesset says secret negotiations needed

Ibrahim Soliman, a Syrian representative in previous, informal talks between Israel and Syria, briefs Knesset committee with Israeli counterpart

Amnon Meranda Published: 04.12.07, 14:47 / Israel News

Israel and Syria should hold secret negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement, Ibrahim (Abe) Soliman told the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday.

Soliman, an American citizen of Syrian descent, came to Israel Tuesday, to hold informal talks, via a non-governmental movement for peace between the two nations. He briefed the Knesset committee along with former Israel Foreign Ministry director-general Dr Alon Liel.

Soliman, who had been involved in informal Israeli-Syrian talks in the past, thanked the committee for the opportunity to brief them. "I didn't envision in my wildest dreams that I'd be talking to important decision makers among the Jewish people. Syria and Israel missed many opportunities to make peace in the past," he said.

Soliman added that he had participated, of his own accord, in informal talks with Israel, although he did report the proceedings to the Syrian leadership in Damascus.

"I believe that only secret negotiations between Israel and Syria, far away from the eyes of the media, will lead to peace," he said.

Upon leaving the briefing, Soliman said, "I'm very glad I came. I hope that both sides will begin to meet and we, as a private channel, will disappear. My presence here makes everything possible."

Knesset members respond

Knesset Member Yisrael Katz (Likud) said that he'd asked Soliman to tell Syrian President Bashar Assad that Israel will not withdraw from the Golan Heights under any circumstances.

"In the past, I got 61 Knesset members to sign a petition against withdrawal from the Golan and there is a clear majority for this in the Knesset. It's important for Assad to know this," he told reporters following the briefing.

Katz also asked Soliman to tell Assad that, in the event that Syria attacked Israel, "any subsequent territory conquered by Israel, would remain in Israeli hands."

In contrast, MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz), who had initiated the Knesset briefing, said, "In a peace agreement, Syria would agree to stop supporting terror against us and cut ties with Hizbullah, and would demand that we return to 1967 borders in the Golan Heights."

She said the briefing "was a huge step, especially because it returns the Syrian option to public discourse. It's important that the Knesset committee hear of the informal understandings between Syria and Dr Alon Liel.

"It's important that Israel begin formal talks with Syria. It's a clear Israel interest to begin negotiations with Damascus and, by doing so, remove it from the Axis of Evil and isolate it from Iran," Gal-On continued.

Wednesday, Soliman visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial as part of his visit to Israel. "It's hard to think of so many people being murdered in such a short time…I pray for a peace that will help prevent such atrocities," he said.


TOPICS: Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: golan; israel; suleiman

1 posted on 04/12/2007 6:35:29 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Esther Ruth

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1816087/posts
Suleiman presents possible Peace Deal (Withdraw from the Golan Heights)
Jerusalem Post ^ | Apr. 12, 2007 0:54 | Updated Apr. 12, 2007 14:26 | MARK WEISS, SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL


2 posted on 04/12/2007 6:42:53 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Esther Ruth

Double Secret Negotiations?


3 posted on 04/12/2007 6:51:28 AM PDT by Ingtar (...right wing conservatives are growing tired of crawling on bloody stumps looking for scraps - JRob)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Esther Ruth
Until Islam admits that there are other religions in the world there can never be peace. Their mission is to either convert or kill all who are not in their religion. So if the left thinks that peace can be had by talking they are STUPID and or they are part of the al-Qaeda war machine.
4 posted on 04/12/2007 6:57:00 AM PDT by YOUGOTIT (The Greatest Threat to our Security is the US Senate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson