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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syrians and Israelis 'held talks' | Syrians and Israelis 'held talks' |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| The Israelis and Syrians have held secret talks about a peace deal, a former Israeli diplomat has said. | The Israelis and Syrians have held secret talks about a peace deal, a former Israeli diplomat has said. |
| Dr Alon Liel said the meetings were arranged in a private capacity, and Israeli sources said the talks were not officially sanctioned by Israel. | Dr Alon Liel said the meetings were arranged in a private capacity, and Israeli sources said the talks were not officially sanctioned by Israel. |
| Israel's Haaretz daily says a series of agreements were reached, including an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967. | Israel's Haaretz daily says a series of agreements were reached, including an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967. |
| But the talks apparently collapsed with Israel's war in Lebanon last year. | But the talks apparently collapsed with Israel's war in Lebanon last year. |
| According to the paper, Israeli and Syrian representatives met secretly in Europe several times between September 2004 and July 2006. | According to the paper, Israeli and Syrian representatives met secretly in Europe several times between September 2004 and July 2006. |
| In exchange for a full Israeli pull-out from Golan Heights, captured in the Six Day War 30 years ago, Syria would end support for anti-Israel militant groups. | In exchange for a full Israeli pull-out from Golan Heights, captured in the Six Day War 30 years ago, Syria would end support for anti-Israel militant groups. |
| But Dr Liel stressed to the BBC that the representatives were operating privately and were not aiming at a final agreement, but a framework. | But Dr Liel stressed to the BBC that the representatives were operating privately and were not aiming at a final agreement, but a framework. |
| While Israel says that non-government representatives from the two countries may have met, Syria denies any secret meetings took place. | |
| Official peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down six years ago, after Syria demanded that Israel hand over the Golan Heights. | Official peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down six years ago, after Syria demanded that Israel hand over the Golan Heights. |
| But last October, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Damascus would be prepared to hold talks with Israel. | But last October, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Damascus would be prepared to hold talks with Israel. |
| He acknowledged Syria and Israel could live side-by-side in peace accepting each other's existence. | He acknowledged Syria and Israel could live side-by-side in peace accepting each other's existence. |
| Israel's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres also said Syrian representatives would be welcome to come to Jerusalem for talks. | Israel's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres also said Syrian representatives would be welcome to come to Jerusalem for talks. |
| But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert distanced himself from Mr Peres's remarks. The invitation, his spokesman said, was not issued on his behalf. | But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert distanced himself from Mr Peres's remarks. The invitation, his spokesman said, was not issued on his behalf. |