Assad was willing 2 go 2 Jerusalem

[Semsem]

http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?...rticleID=11866

Shalom reveals he held contacts with Syrian officials

During Knesset debate, FM said he met with Assad’s associates three weeks after war in Iraq began. He added meetings, which were approved by Sharon, called off by Syrians following press leaks.
Ben Kaspit


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Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom revealed this (Wednesday) evening at the Knesset that he had held contacts with Syrian officials close to President Bashar Assad.

During a debate about the Syrian leader’s declaration he was willing to resume talks with Israel without preconditions, Shalom disclosed that about 18 months ago he held secret contacts with Syria that were approved by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

According to Shalom, three weeks after the war in Iraq began, he met with Assad’s associates. He added that that the meetings were called off by the Syrians following leaks to the press.

This morning, "Maariv" revealed that the Syrian President was willing to come to Jerusalem and address the Knesset in 2003, as a first gesture before resuming peace talks with Jerusalem. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected the offer.

“Israel missed a golden opportunity to return to the negotiating table in ideal conditions as first as it was concerned”, senior defense and political sources said.

Assad’s proposal was brought up during the secret contacts held between Israel and Syria at the beginning of 2003, which were revealed by “Maariv” at the time.

All those involved believed Assad was serious about peace: The Syrians themselves, who kept on stressing that Assad himself was in the loop, Israeli military officials who identified Damascus’s positive approach, the international bodies involved and even Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom who was of the opinion that Jerusalem should try and resume the dialogue course. However, the only person who objected Ariel Sharon.

The 2003 talks, which were held in Jordan, were headed by the Director General of the Foreign Ministry at the time, Eitan Bentzur, while the Syrians sent the president’s brother, Maher Assad.

Speaking with Maariv on Tuesday this week, Bentzur confirmed the information but refused to elaborate. “The contacts were very serious. I am sorry that there were those in Israel who dismissed them”, he said.

The defense establishment estimated that while contacts were held, Assad was under heavy pressure due to the planned US invasion of Iraq and rumors that American Marines would continue on to Damascus after conquering Iraq.

They believed Assad was willing to make extensive compromises to cut himself from the US “food chain”.

On Tuesday, UN Middle East Envoy Terje Roed Larson urged Israel to accept Syrian President Bashar Assad’s offer to resume peace negotiations without conditions.

Larson who spoke with reporters after he appeared before the Knesset’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, reiterated what the Syrian leader told him last week in Damascus, “Assad told me straight and simple that he was ready to resume talks without any preconditions of any kind”.

[Typhoon]

This Bashar Al-Assad has got to be the weakest personality of any leader the Middle East has had for 30 years.

Everyoneknows that he isn't the one pulling the strings in that country.

Lets just its his 'daddys' friends are the ones currently ruling that country to its death-bed