Syria rejects direct talks until Israel responds to Turkey's draft plan

Damascus officials said that Syria was unwilling to engage Israel in direct peace talks until Israel answered six specific questions on the matter of the Golan Heights, according to the report in London-based Al-Hayat.

Syria and Israel recently held four rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Turkey. The talks however made no significant headway and Syria has said a fifth round was postponed at Israel’s request.

Direct negotiations were frozen eight years ago after Israel baulked at Syrian demands for the return the of all of the occupied Golan Heights, right down to the Sea of Galilee, its main water source.

Israel seized the Golan in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981 in a move never recognized by the international community.

The report said Syria has given Turkish mediators its responses to Israel's security questions, but has asked that the document not be transferred until Jerusalem delivers its responses to Damascus' own queries.

Syria would not agree to move on to direct talks until the answers were given, it added.

Both Turkey and Syria have expressed hope that the new U.S. administration will enable an intensive advancement of contacts and perhaps even bring about direct negotiations.

The Bush administration has long had reservations about Israel's talks with Syria and refuses to play any active role in them.

U.S. resident-elect Barack Obama however favors American dialogue with Syria, and would presumably agree to take an active role in renewed Israeli-Syrian talks.