Binyamin Netanyahu: Turkish prime minister did not strengthen perception of honest mediator
France is Israel's preferred broker for peace negotiations with Damascus, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the cabinet on Sunday as he rejected Syria's call for Turkey to hold such talks.
"Israel is ready for talks with Syria without preconditions, ideally direct talks. If there will be a mediator we prefer an honest one. The Turkish prime minister objectively did not strengthen the perception that he could be an honest mediator in recent weeks. I prefer the French," Netanyahu said.
Last Wednesday during a meeting in Paris, he asked French President Nicolas Sarkozy to tell the Syrians that he was willing to begin direct talks with them anytime, anywhere and without preconditions.
But after meeting with Sarkozy on Friday, Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected Israel's proposal, and said he preferred indirect negotiations brokered by Turkey.
Under prime minister Ehud Olmert, Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations brokered by Ankara, The Jerusalem Post reported.
"Israel is ready for talks with Syria without preconditions, ideally direct talks. If there will be a mediator we prefer an honest one. The Turkish prime minister objectively did not strengthen the perception that he could be an honest mediator in recent weeks. I prefer the French," Netanyahu said.
Last Wednesday during a meeting in Paris, he asked French President Nicolas Sarkozy to tell the Syrians that he was willing to begin direct talks with them anytime, anywhere and without preconditions.
But after meeting with Sarkozy on Friday, Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected Israel's proposal, and said he preferred indirect negotiations brokered by Turkey.
Under prime minister Ehud Olmert, Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations brokered by Ankara, The Jerusalem Post reported.
