Israel Matzav

Mais pourquois?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appointed a former French ambassador to Syria and Egypt to act as a mediator between Israel and Syria.

Sarkozy is hoping to restart 'negotiations' that would see Israel give up the strategically significant Golan Heights in return for vague paper guarantees of 'peace.' The British newswire cited the French Foreign Ministry, saying a spokesman confirmed that Jean-Claude Cousseran, a former ambassador to both Damascus and Cairo, would take on the position.

Cousseran was appointed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in an apparent effort to re-start peace talks between the nations.

Syria hopes for a return of the Golan Heights, occupied and annexed by Israel from Syria in 1967, while peace with Syria would likely guarantee Israel increased stability in the region, and would bode well for peace talks with Palestinian sides.

"I can confirm that (Sarkozy) has charged Jean-Claude Cousseran with a mission concerning the relaunch of the Israeli-Syrian part of the (Middle East) peace process," Reuters quoted the ministry’s spokesman as saying.

Funny, I haven't seen much about this in Israeli media. Perhaps they forgot to tell us.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:18 PM