Olmert rejects Syrian calls for peace talks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ehud Olmert, Israel's Prime Minister, has rejected an appeal from President Bashar Assad to resume peace talks with Syria.
He suggested Mr Assad's overture was prompted by a desire to fend off international sanctions for Damascus's alleged complicity in the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, and its support for radical forces in the Middle East.
"We need to ask ourselves," Mr Olmert told his cabinet yesterday, "why, precisely at this moment, Assad is asking to renew negotiations. The considerations that motivate Assad are not necessarily the considerations that motivate us."
His reaction came after President George Bush rejected a call from the Iraq Study Group to engage with Iran and Syria on broader Middle East issues.
President Assad called on Mr Olmert to heed his calls for negotiations, in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.
Amir Peretz, Israel's Defence Minister, called for an "urgent debate" to weigh the possibility of severing Syria's ties with Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas. But Mr Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, said: "The Syrian government has shown, in actions rather than words, it has no interest in real negotiations."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments