By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Thursday said he expects the talks with Syria to take long and involve painful compromise.
In remarks quoted by Radio Israel, he said his government’s main concern is the northern borders with Syria and Lebanon, tensions over which he feared might lead to regional deterioration in security.
He further considered the resumption of dialogue with Syria a national duty, the same standpoint of his predecessors Rabin, Netanyaho, and Barak.
The three were all willing to compromise in order to achieve peace with Syria, he stressed.
Meanwhile, Haaretz daily reported that talks with Syria would start within weeks aiming at a comprehensive peace agreement, and the “indirect” negotiations are to take place in Istanbul under Turkish sponsorship.
Olmert was quoted saying on Wednesday “there had been a development in Syrian positions and the contacts with Syria are a historic breakthrough.” The opposition meanwhile Wednesday started rallying against the talks and warning against any consideration on the part of the Olmert government to give up the Golan Heights as part of a peace agreement.
Media reported that Knesset member Eliahu Gabbay gathered signatures of 57 MPs from different parties to support a bill he intends to present on maintaining Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
According to Radio Israel, the bill states Israel may only pull out from the Golan with the approval of two thirds of the Knesset’s 120 members.
Syria had yesterday reported that common ground with Israel was found that would enable resumption of direct talks “soon”, before lapse of the Bush presidency.
Reports quoted official sources saying Damascus would waste no real opportunity for peace, provided nothing comes at the cost of the Palestinian track.
Turkish FM Ali Babacan had said the preliminary talks between the two sides would begin soon with his country’s help.
Radio Israel quoted him saying, yesterday, that peace between the two countries would be in return for an Israeli pullout from the Golan Heights, and indicating the talks would be “indirect”.