An Israeli official denied Saturday a report on an American observer being sent to the next round of indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.
"We are unaware of such a plan," the official in Jerusalem was quoted as saying in response to the report by London-based Arabic-language Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Mark Regev, spokesman of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was not immediately available for comment on the report.
Earlier Saturday, the newspaper reported that the United States plans to send an observer to the fifth round of Israeli-Syrian peace talks.
The talks will be held in Istanbul in about two weeks at the presence of the senior American delegate, the newspaper added, citing a top European official.
An unnamed Israeli source quoted by the newspaper confirmed the European official's statement, saying that the European official arrived in Israel on Friday in order to brief Israeli officials on the results of Thursday's four-way summit in Damascus, which was attended by the leaders of Syria, France, Turkey and Qatar, said Yedioth Ahronoth.
According to the source, the European official raised the possibility that the fifth round of talks would be held on Sept. 18.
On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the fifth round of indirect peace talks was postponed due to the resignation of chief Israeli negotiator Yoram Turbowitz.
The president also said Syria has put forward six points on peacemaking with Israel and has handed to the Turkish side and awaits Israel's response.
"In the event that Israel responds positively, we will move into direct negotiation," Assad said, hoping for a new U.S. administration's commitment to the peace process.
Israel and Syria announced in mid-May that they had started peace negotiations under the auspices of Turkey.
The key issue between the two neighbors are the strategic Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day-War and annexed in 1981, a move that was not recognized by the international community.
Syria wants the return of the full Golan, but Israel in turn wants Damascus to cut ties with its foes, including Iran, radical Palestinian groups and Hezbollah.
Source: Xinhua
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