U.S.: No heat on Israel to shun Syria

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

U.S.: No heat on Israel to shun Syria

By STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 22, 12:28 AM ET

RAMAT GAN, Israel - The U.S. ambassador to Israel on Monday
said the United States is not pressuring Israel to rebuff Syrian
offers of peace negotiations, denying reports that Washington
has been urging Israel to shun Syria.

Ambassador Richard Jones' comments came as the Haaretz
newspaper reported that the U.S. has reversed its position and
given Israel the green light to talk to Syria. Jones said the
U.S. and Israel independently oppose talks with Syria for the
same reasons.

Jones, speaking at a conference at Bar Ilan University outside
of Tel Aviv, said the U.S. had never put any pressure on Israel.
While not referring directly to the Haaretz report, Jones said
Israel and the U.S. share the same view of Damascus.

"Do American and Israeli foreign policies differ on Syria? Does
the United States stop Israel starting peace discussions with
Syria? No. No," he said. "Israel is not negotiating with Syria
because Israel doesn't trust Syria any more than the United
States does."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070522/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_us_syria

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Related: U.S. about-face gives Israel green light for Syria talks - Haaretz