Jerusalem - Formal peace talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to commence soon, the Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr Faruq al-Shara, predicted yesterday, underlining the optimism in the Middle East that a comprehensive settlement between Israel and all its Arab neighbours is now within reach, writes David Horovitz.
Mr al-Shara, who last week held two days of negotiations in Washington with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Barak - the highest-level Israeli-Syrian peace talks ever - flew to Lebanon yesterday to brief leaders in Beirut on the new contacts.
At a press conference in Washington, Mr al-Shara said he had found Mr Barak to be "serious in the peace talks. We were very serious also. The mood was productive and businesslike."