DUBAI, Jan 18 (NNN) : Amid indications of Syrian protests against delay in withdrawal from the strategic Golan Heights, the crucial next round of Israeli-Syrian peace talks in the United States has been postponed though Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak went in for unscheduled talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat late last night.
Barak had been scheduled to meet Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara for a third round of talks on Wednesday in Washington.
He was also expected to take part in a Washington summit with United States President Bill Clinton and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, due to meet Clinton on January 20.
Even as Barak reportedly went in for talks with Arafat in Tel Aviv late last night, an Israeli official announced in Jerusalem yesterday, that "the next round of talks (in Washington) has been postponed, and therefore the prime minister will not set out for the United States tomorrow." He did not give a reason for the postponement, nor say whether it was at Syrias request.
On Sunday, a Syrian official said a decision had not been made as to whether to return to the United States for the new round of talks.
"If it isnt comfortable for the Syrians to come now, and they need some time, they should take the time," said Barak before the postponement was announced yesterday.
Barak has not ruled out withdrawing from most or all of the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War.
But in return for a withdrawal, Israel wants security guarantees and control of fresh water resources.
Syria wants to start with a pledge from Israel that it will pull out of all of the Golan Heights and remove the 17,000 settlers who live there.
On Monday, Israels chief rabbis ruled that the Golan Heights is part of the biblical land of Israel - a decision that could influence Israels Orthodox Jews, who make up about 25% of the population, to vote against returning it in the referendum which Barak has promised on any deal.
However, the Chief Rabbinical Council did not conclude that Jewish law forbids Israel from giving up the Golan Heights for peace.
Shortly after the announcement of the delay, it was disclosed that Barak was holding unscheduled talks with Arafat in Tel Aviv to disucss mainly the indefinite postponement of the next scheduled Israeli withdrawal from 6.1% of the West Bank, and negotiations to achieve agreement on the final status of the Palestinian territories, Israel radio reported.
In Washington, meanwhile, US President Bill Clinton said that Israel and Syria remained committed to peace despite the postponement of a new round of talks this week.
"The good news is Im convinced they both still want to do it," Clinton said, adding "theyre not as far apart as they might be, theyre not as far apart as they have been.
So thats the good news." US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said both sides were reviewing the status of the talks.
"Presently, their approaches to the next round differ, and as a result, there is going to be a delay," she said in a statement.
"In the meantime, each side has agreed to send experts to Washington to meet us and provide their comments on the draft," she added.