Uncertainty remains over Israel-Syria talks after Damascus four-way summit

by Jin Jing

BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Chinese media) -- The prospects of the peace talks between Israel and Syria remained uncertain after a four-way summit held in Damascus on Thursday, although the meeting offered some hope that the long-standing impasse between the two Middle Eastern neighbors could be eased.

A NEW MECHANISM?

The Damascus summit was attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar's EmirSheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, as well as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Compared to the so-called Middle East Quartet, which groups theUnited Nations, Russia, the United States and the European Union (EU), the four-way summit reduces the power playing by the big states and helps solve the conflicts in a more pragmatic manner, analysts say.

The Damascus summit was largely designed to break the deadlock by encouraging direct talks between Israel and Syria due to the slow progress has been made in the Middle East peace talks since the meeting in Annapolis, the United States, last November.

"We are now looking for a formula of general principles as a basis for direct negotiations between Syria and Israel," Assad said, noting that Syria has put forward six points on peacemaking with Israel and is awaiting Israel's response.

"In the event that Israel responds positively, we will move into direct negotiations," Assad said.

UNCERTAINTY REMAINS

While the summit raised hopes the two Middle Eastern rivals could eventually talk to each other face to face, the meeting was overshadowed by the postponement of a new round of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel that would pave the way for direct talks.

The fifth round of indirect peace talks between the two sides was postponed due to the resignation of Israel's chief negotiator, said Assad.

According to the Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post, Israeli chief negotiator Yoram Turbowitz resigned as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's chief of staff, thus losing his legal authority to conduct negotiations on behalf of Israel.

Adding to the uncertainties are the pending general elections in Israel and in the United States.

Washington's isolation of Syria would not contribute to the peace process in the region, and Israel and Syria, while looking to the possible change in the U.S. policy, are unlikely to take substantial steps until a new U.S. president takes office early next year, analysts say.

LINGERING RIFTS

Israel and Syria announced in mid-May that they had started peace negotiations under the auspices of Turkey.

The key issue between the two neighbors is the strategic Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed in 1981, a move that was not recognized by the international community.

Assad said Syria and Israel had separately put forward ideas on the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, noting that Israel's reaction on the issue will be crucial in the peace talks.

"We are awaiting the Israeli elections," Assad said. "We want...to insure that the next Israeli prime minister would continue the same trend adopted by Ehud Olmert to withdraw completely from occupied territories in order to achieve peace."

Meanwhile, Israel is insisting that Damascus should cut ties with its foes, including Iran, radical Palestinian groups and the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement -- a position backed by the United States.

Washington has said Syria needs to do more before any warming of ties.

"Overall what we'd like to see out of Syria is for it to play a much more productive role in the region. It hasn't until now," U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.