
'Israel to propose Olmert-Assad talks'
Israeli envoys holding indirect peace talks with Syrian officials will propose the leaders of the two countries should meet in France next month, Israeli political sources said on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched the Turkish-mediated peace negotiations last month.
Both Olmert and Assad were due to attend a summit of European and Mediterranean countries in Paris on July 13 and Olmert was offering to meet Assad on the sidelines, said the sources.
"The idea isn't necessarily to hold an hours-long conversation, just a face-to-face encounter that would in itself serve to take things forward," said one source. "This is one of the fresh ideas that is being raised in Turkey."
The source, who declined to be named, said the Israeli envoys began the latest round of indirect talks on Sunday.
The last direct talks between the two countries stalled in 2000 over Israel's reluctance to return the entire Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured from Syria in a 1967 war.
Syria is firm in its demand for all the Golan.

Virginia capital braces for pro-gun demonstration in wake of Capitol siege

Detained Kremlin foe Navalny rushed to court, Moscow tells West to butt out
![“She [Harris] has a voice in all of those. She has an opinion in all those areas,” Harris’ chief spokeswoman Symone Sanders.(AFP) “She [Harris] has a voice in all of those. She has an opinion in all those areas,” Harris’ chief spokeswoman Symone Sanders.(AFP)](https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2021/01/18/550x309/AFP_8YY92D_1610969372320_1610969395712.jpg)
After roof shattering victory, Kamala Harris faces daunting challenges

England aims to ease lockdown measures by early March under vaccine plan

EU gender pay gap still significant, warn trade unions

Pakistan, Turkey are two countries but one nation: Pak Air Force chief

Indian woman dies in UAE after husband accidentally rams car into her

Wuhan, one year after coronavirus lockdown

Singapore urges national airline to be first to vaccinate all staff

Italian PM Conte seeks to save his government from falling

China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe retrieved samples weighing lesser than 2kg target

Covid-19 vaccination: Immunisation figures in countries with highest caseloads

China locks down another three million after travelling salesman spreads virus

Afghanistan Army kills 8 Taliban terrorists in Takhar province
