Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday towards advancing peace efforts between Jerusalem and Damascus. The indirect talks mediated by Turkey began in February 2007.

Over the weekend, Olmert, who is the head of a transition government, stated a deal with Syria is doable and Syria is more willing today than ever before.

Olmert added that other former prime ministers were also willing to make major concessions to the Syrians, prompting statements from Ehud Barak and Binyamin Netanyahu, both stating they were never willing to offer such comprehensive concessions as Olmert has announced today.

Cabinet ministers and leaders of Olmert’s Kadima Party have all stated he does not have a mandate to make any commitments to the Syrians or others that would commit a future administration since he lost his mandate.

Kadima member Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that a diplomatic process with the Syrians is good, but he stressed Olmert has lost his mandate and does not have the right to do anything that will commit the next administration.

Mofaz stated that his position has been and remains that a deal may be reached without a retreat from the Golan, at least not until such time when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad makes his intentions clear regarding Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas, Israel mustn’t commit to anything.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)