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| Israel confirms talks with Syria | Israel confirms talks with Syria |
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| Israel says it is holding indirect talks with Syria to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. | Israel says it is holding indirect talks with Syria to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. |
| A statement by the Israeli prime minister's office said both sides were talking "in good faith and openly". | A statement by the Israeli prime minister's office said both sides were talking "in good faith and openly". |
| The statement is the first official confirmation of reports in recent months of Turkish-mediated talks. | The statement is the first official confirmation of reports in recent months of Turkish-mediated talks. |
| The last round of talks broke down in 2000 because of disagreement over the extent of Israel's possible withdrawal from the Golan Heights. | The last round of talks broke down in 2000 because of disagreement over the extent of Israel's possible withdrawal from the Golan Heights. |
| "The two sides indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to achieve complete peace," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | "The two sides indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to achieve complete peace," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. |
| In April, it was reported that Turkey was mediating in talks between the two sides, who are still technically at war over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war. | In April, it was reported that Turkey was mediating in talks between the two sides, who are still technically at war over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war. |
| A Syrian government minister said in April that Mr Olmert had offered to return the Golan Heights in return for peace. | |
| Those reports sparked outrage in the Israeli parliament, however, where several MPs said they would seek to accelerate the passage of a bill requiring any withdrawal from the Golan to be dependent on a referendum. | Those reports sparked outrage in the Israeli parliament, however, where several MPs said they would seek to accelerate the passage of a bill requiring any withdrawal from the Golan to be dependent on a referendum. |