Moallem: Israel asked to postpone fifth round of Syria talks

By JPOST.COM STAFF, HERB KEINON
Israel has asked to postpone a fifth round of indirect talks with Syria that was scheduled for Thursday, Reuters quoted Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem as saying on Wednesday. "When Israel is ready to resume the talks, we will be ready as well," he was quoted as saying. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev refused comment on the postponement, according to Reuters, but said that Israel remained "committed to the Turkish initiative and to the indirect talks with the Syrians," and expressed hope that the next round would be held in the near future. Last week, however, the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al-Khaleej quoted Syrian sources saying the indirect talks had run their course, and that a fifth round would not be necessary.