"We are very unhappy with the continued intensive involvement of Syria in the affairs of Lebanon and the lack of a democratic process in electing a new president in Lebanon. We are also unhappy with the continued links between Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas," he said.
Israeli and Turkish sources said the US had been kept abreast of the talks since the very beginning and done nothing to stop them. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, when asked about the talks Wednesday, said, "This decision was undertaken by Israel. We were not surprised by it, and we do not object to it."
The US has let it be known, however, that it is skeptical that the talks will alter Syria's negative behavior in the region. Last week, in an interview with the Post and other Israeli journalists in the Oval Office before his trip to the region, US President George W. Bush said he had never sought to prevent Israel from negotiating with Damascus. But he also highlighted his own objections to American-Syrian dialogue and warned of the threat inherent in the Iranian-Syrian alliance.
Meanwhile, opposition MKs lashed out at Olmert for opening talks with Syria over the Golan Heights even as he faced a criminal investigation.
"No one will defend us apart from ourselves," Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu declared at the opening of the World Congress of Russian-Speaking Jews at the Jerusalem International Convention Center on Wednesday night. "History won't give the Jewish people a second chance."
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