Barak: Israel Should Accept Upcoming U.S. Peace Plan
(AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
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August 4, 2009 2:25 PM Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak says that Israel should accept a plan the United States is expected to release sometime within the next weeks.
July 26, 2009 9:11 AM 
George Mitchell, the Obama administration's Middle East envoy, hoped on Sunday his new round of talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad — their second in a month — would breathe new life into the faltering peace process, Washington's ultimate goal in the Middle East.
"I have just completed a very candid and positive conservation with President al-Assad," Mitchell said, reports CBS News' George Baghdadi in Damascus. "I discussed with him the prospects for moving forward on our goal of comprehensive peace in the region and improved bilateral relations between Syria and the United States."
Mitchell: Peace Our Ultimate Goal in Mideast
(AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
"I have just completed a very candid and positive conservation with President al-Assad," Mitchell said, reports CBS News' George Baghdadi in Damascus. "I discussed with him the prospects for moving forward on our goal of comprehensive peace in the region and improved bilateral relations between Syria and the United States."
July 24, 2009 7:54 AM 
Amid strong U.S. pressure for a settlement freeze, there is growing skepticism among Israelis about America's stance in the Middle East peace process.
A poll published Friday in The Jerusalem Post shows that 64 percent of Israeli Jews believe Israel cannot trust international pledges for its security in return for dismantling settlements and withdrawing from the West Bank.
Furthermore, Israelis want a quid pro quo: 71 percent believe that Palestinians must freeze West Bank construction if Israel is forced to do the same.
The settlement issue has led to a deepening rift between Israel and Washington since hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assumed power three months ago. The Obama administration is demanding a complete freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank and disputed East Jerusalem.
Israelis Wary of U.S.-Backed Peace Process
(AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool)
A poll published Friday in The Jerusalem Post shows that 64 percent of Israeli Jews believe Israel cannot trust international pledges for its security in return for dismantling settlements and withdrawing from the West Bank.
Furthermore, Israelis want a quid pro quo: 71 percent believe that Palestinians must freeze West Bank construction if Israel is forced to do the same.
The settlement issue has led to a deepening rift between Israel and Washington since hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assumed power three months ago. The Obama administration is demanding a complete freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank and disputed East Jerusalem.
July 24, 2009 7:31 AM 
George Mitchell, the Obama administration's Middle East envoy, arrives in Damascus on Saturday to see if he can garner Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's support for America's new broad-based, comprehensive peace drive in the region.
Mitchell, an architect of the Northern Ireland peace agreement, is also to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this weekend, where he'll try to kick-start peace talks with the Palestinians and discuss the recent spat between Israel and Washington over continued Israeli construction in east Jerusalem.
Diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus tell CBS News Mitchell is expected in the Syrian capital Saturday night and that he will start his official meetings Sunday morning.
U.S. Mideast Envoy Heads Back to Syria
(AP Photo/Nader Daoud)
Mitchell, an architect of the Northern Ireland peace agreement, is also to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this weekend, where he'll try to kick-start peace talks with the Palestinians and discuss the recent spat between Israel and Washington over continued Israeli construction in east Jerusalem.
Diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus tell CBS News Mitchell is expected in the Syrian capital Saturday night and that he will start his official meetings Sunday morning.
July 23, 2009 7:34 AM 
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that peace in the Middle East will only be achievable if Israel gives back the territories it has occupied.
The Turkish leader made it clear that Ankara was ready to act as an intermediary to bring Syria and Israel — long-time foes — to the negotiating table.
A joint statement from the Turkish and Syrian leaders stresses the need for "a genuine Israeli political will to make peace based on the implementation of international resolutions and Israel's withdrawal from occupied Arab lands."
Turkey, Syria Push Israel on Occupied Lands
(AP Photo/SANA)
The Turkish leader made it clear that Ankara was ready to act as an intermediary to bring Syria and Israel — long-time foes — to the negotiating table.
A joint statement from the Turkish and Syrian leaders stresses the need for "a genuine Israeli political will to make peace based on the implementation of international resolutions and Israel's withdrawal from occupied Arab lands."
July 16, 2009 10:34 AM 
A top adviser to U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell said on Thursday the Obama administration is seeking to play a "balanced" role in its drive for peace in the Middle East.
Fred Hoff made his remarks, in a bid to test Syria's support for Washington's efforts, after lengthy talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Damascus.
"Mr. Hoff underlined the United States' quest to work for achieving comprehensive peace in the region and its determination to play its effective and balanced role for resuming peace negotiations on all tracks," said an official statement.
Meanwhile, the Israelis said they were ready to resume direct talks with Damascus if it distances itself from Iran and armed Islamist groups in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories that are arrayed against the Jewish state.
Syria dismissed the Israeli demand, insisting that any new negotiations should include assurances that it will recover the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 war.
Washington Hunting for a "Balanced" Role
(AP Photo/Ola Rifai)
Fred Hoff made his remarks, in a bid to test Syria's support for Washington's efforts, after lengthy talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in Damascus.
"Mr. Hoff underlined the United States' quest to work for achieving comprehensive peace in the region and its determination to play its effective and balanced role for resuming peace negotiations on all tracks," said an official statement.
Meanwhile, the Israelis said they were ready to resume direct talks with Damascus if it distances itself from Iran and armed Islamist groups in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories that are arrayed against the Jewish state.
Syria dismissed the Israeli demand, insisting that any new negotiations should include assurances that it will recover the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 war.
June 13, 2009 11:51 AM
Syria Hopes For "Natural Relations" With U.S.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell, the highest-ranking administration official to visit Damascus since 2005, said on Saturday that Washington was seeking Damascus' help in securing a lasting peace in the Middle East.
A week after U.S. President Barack Obama pledged in his Cairo speech to pursue a broad-based, comprehensive peace agreement in the region, Mitchell arrived in Syria from Lebanon to see if the time is right.
The two-day visit is the most concrete sign yet of rapprochement between Washington and Damascus — a radical departure from the Bush administration.
The Syrian leader, a Presidential statement said, "explained Syria's firm position in seeking to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of international resolutions and formulas."
A week after U.S. President Barack Obama pledged in his Cairo speech to pursue a broad-based, comprehensive peace agreement in the region, Mitchell arrived in Syria from Lebanon to see if the time is right.
The two-day visit is the most concrete sign yet of rapprochement between Washington and Damascus — a radical departure from the Bush administration.
The Syrian leader, a Presidential statement said, "explained Syria's firm position in seeking to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of international resolutions and formulas."
June 3, 2009 5:50 PM
Egypt Prepares For Obama's Visit
Preparations for President Barack Obama's visit to Egypt have been in high gear in Cairo. Residents of areas neighboring the Cairo University campus and the Pyramids road have been amazed by the complete transformation of the area.
Landscaping and new gardens have been planted in front of the university’s dome; workers in their hundreds applied fresh paint on the University Bridge and all lampposts around the area; new asphalt has been laid on all roads the Mr. Obama's procession is expected to use; and new Egyptian and U.S. flags are now fluttering all over the city.
The local press said refurbishments of the university alone cost over $2.4 million.
Security has been beefed up for the visit. In addition to the thousands of Egyptian soldiers mobilized for the occasion, hundreds of FBI and CIA agents have flocked to the city in preparation for the president's eight-hour visit, according to news reports. Some said 1,000 U.S. officers and tons of equipment arrived at Cairo airport last week, and it’s been reported that U.S. security officers met with their Egyptian counterparts to discuss the security plan for the visit, which excludes any involvement from the Egyptian side.
Landscaping and new gardens have been planted in front of the university’s dome; workers in their hundreds applied fresh paint on the University Bridge and all lampposts around the area; new asphalt has been laid on all roads the Mr. Obama's procession is expected to use; and new Egyptian and U.S. flags are now fluttering all over the city.
The local press said refurbishments of the university alone cost over $2.4 million.
Security has been beefed up for the visit. In addition to the thousands of Egyptian soldiers mobilized for the occasion, hundreds of FBI and CIA agents have flocked to the city in preparation for the president's eight-hour visit, according to news reports. Some said 1,000 U.S. officers and tons of equipment arrived at Cairo airport last week, and it’s been reported that U.S. security officers met with their Egyptian counterparts to discuss the security plan for the visit, which excludes any involvement from the Egyptian side.
May 25, 2009 3:33 PM
Syria, Israel At Impasse Over Golan Heights?
Syria's foreign minister said on Monday his country would not go back to peace talks with Israel unless it spells out it would relinquish the Golan Heights and urged the United States to translate its words into actions on the ground.
“We will not return to unproductive talks. When we decide to do so, this means that we will be going in accordance with internationally-recognized bases and formulas, on the basis of the total liberation of the Golan to the 4th of June 1967 borderline,” Walid al-Mouallem told a news conference at the end of a three-day meeting of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference in the Syrian capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday after meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington that he was ready to resume the talks with Syria immediately, but indicated he would not make any commitments on land first.
“We will not return to unproductive talks. When we decide to do so, this means that we will be going in accordance with internationally-recognized bases and formulas, on the basis of the total liberation of the Golan to the 4th of June 1967 borderline,” Walid al-Mouallem told a news conference at the end of a three-day meeting of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference in the Syrian capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday after meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington that he was ready to resume the talks with Syria immediately, but indicated he would not make any commitments on land first.
May 8, 2009 6:57 PM
Message Sent By Bibi To Barack
Bibi Netanyahu tells Israeli reporters that Israel will never come down from the Golan Heights - this less than two weeks before his planned meeting with President Barack Obama. Message sent.
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