Talks continue with Syria

A fourth round of indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, mediated by Turkey, ended last week. A fifth round is due this month, a senior source close to the talks told Reuters. “The fourth round has ended. It was positive. The fifth round will be in mid-August, and again indirect,” the senior source close to the talks told Reuters. The talks took place at an undisclosed location in Istanbul. The source said he expected a sixth round in September, but did not specify whether that round would be face to face.
Negotiations centre on the fate of the Golan Heights and Syria’s relations with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Probing the Gaza pullout

A Knesset committee has approved a commission to study the handling of Israeli evacuees from the Gaza Strip since the 2005 withdrawal. The State Control Committee voted 9-3 to approve the commission of inquiry. State Control Committee Chairman Zevulun Orlev of the National Union-National Religious Party, said the commission was needed because “the government expelled 10,000 people from their homes and abandoned them.” Meretz lawmaker Avshalom Vilan expressed concern that the establishment of such a commission would set a precedent for future evacuations. He called the vote in favor of the commission “cheap populism.”

Probing the water crisis

A Knesset committee agreed to establish a state commission of inquiry into Israel’s water crisis. The Knesset State Control Committee said it would set up the commission to investigate why the recommendations of professionals and government decisions were ignored. It will be charged as well with making recommendations for both the short and long term to ensure an adequate water supply. In July, Israel’s main source of fresh water, the Sea of Galilee, reached its bottom red line, beyond which pumping water can cause irreversible damage. Experts have predicted it will reach its black line, beyond which pumping is impossible, by December.

Bibi wants vote now

A day after Ehud Olmert announced that he would not run for re-election, Benjamin Netanyahu called for new general elections. Netanyahu, the opposition leader of the right-wing Likud Party, took to the airwaves the morning after the Israeli prime minister announced he would resign when a new Kadima Party head was elected next month. He urged new elections as soon as possible. “This government has reached an end… it doesn’t matter who heads Kadima. They are all partners in this government’s total failure,” Netanyahu told Israeli Radio. Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon, who is close to Olmert, has said he believes Olmert’s successor will have a hard time forming a new government and that new elections are likely.

Will work for peace: Livni

Tzipi Livni said Israel will work to close a peace deal with the Palestinians this year, no matter who is prime minister. Israel’s foreign minister, who spoke with reporters after a meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said internal politics would not change the country’s agenda. “The fact that there are internal changes does not change the fact that a threat exists,” said Livni, lead negotiator in talks with the Palestinians. She called on Israel’s political parties to unite under the centrist Kadima Party to promote security and the peace process.

Olmert interrogated again

Police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last Friday at his Jerusalem home. It was the fourth interrogation in connection with an evolving graft investigation. The interrogation reportedly dealt mostly with Rishon Tours, Olmert’s travel agency and less with the “cash envelopes” case involving American Morris Talansky. The questioning reportedly took place in a calm environment.