Israel and Syria 'reach understandings'

Israel and Syria have reached understandings on a future peace deal between the two countries following a series of secret talks between its representatives, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported today.

According to the report, Israeli and Syrian officials met secretly in Europe several times between September 2004 and July 2006, reaching a framework for a deal that would include an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which it captured in the 1967 Mideast war.

Israel denied any involvement in the reported talks. David Baker, and official in the prime minister’s office, said “the Israeli government is unaware of any such meetings.”

Former minister for foreign affairs Silvan Shalom told Israel’s Army Radio that he first learned of the talks by reading today’s paper.

He said the last contact Israel had with a Syrian representative was in 2003.

Haaretz reported that Israel was represented in the talks by Alon Liel, a former top diplomat, and that former prime minister Ariel Sharon was briefed on the meetings and that prime minister Ehud Olmert had been informed.

The Syrian representative in the talks was Ibrahim Suleiman, an American citizen.