November 13, 2007 (LPAC)--Defense Minister Ehud Barak reported wants Israel to launch its own comprehensive peace initiative that would include a peace agreement with Syria, according to a report in today's Ynet. Such an initiative should be launched after the U.S. sponsored peace summit, and would clearly state what Israel's positions are in terms of coming to a peace agreement with the Palestinians, Syria and other Arab countries, because such an initiative could stop other peace plans, like the Arab peace initiative, from being forced on Israel.

Ynet reports that Barak recently told his associates in a closed forum that Israel should reopen talks with Syria. "Such a change may lead to good and unexpected results for Israel," Barak said. "We must conduct extensive work which would determine all of Israel's crucial interests in the region. We must examine this as against Syria, as against the Palestinians, as against the Jordanians and as against any other Arab country. Israel must push for its own initiative and not be dragged by initiatives from the other side." He stressed that with Syria, "the price is known and the outcome important."

"Why not have an Israeli initiative?" Barak asked. "Why shouldn't we stipulate out interests, what we want, what we are willing to give, and then launch our own peace plan as a starting point for negotiations?" he added.

Pushing for an invitation to Syria to the Bush Administration peace summit, during a meeting a week ago at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Barak said that "there is room for Syria to take part in the Annapolis conference. We can find a formula which will lead to Syria's participation in this conference." Barak said that Syria would participate under certain conditions that would lead to the resumption of the negotiations with Israel.

"That's the only way to save the Annapolis conference," said Lyndon LaRouche.