Middle East-Afghanistan Inside Line: Ayalon on Peace; NATO Operation Against Taliban; US Relations with Syria & Israel

Israel's Ayalon on Peace: On Saturday, in an interview with the London-based Arabic daily Asharq al-Awsat, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon talked about the conditions of the peace process with Palestinians. He pointed towards two demographically "pure" states with the swap to Palestine of Israeli Arab towns and villages in the north (except Nazareth) in exchange for Palestinians relinquishing the "right of return" to their former lands in Israel.

Ayalon denied that this was an attempt to rid Israel of the country's Arabs: "Israel's Arabs who are moved to Palestine will also help the Palestinian state economically".

Ayalon also said that Israel is willing to give up land for peace and that the claim that settlements affect peace is an exaggeration; however, he did not specify how many settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that Israel would relinquish.



US-UK-Afghan Offensive Against Taliban: Thousands of British, US and Afghan soldiers are engaged in the biggest military offensive since 2001 in central Afghanistan. The push, codenamed Mushtarak ("together"), is against the Taliban in Helmand province, especially the towns of Marjah and Nad Ali.

US Restores Ambassador in Syria: Philip J. Crowley,  Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, confirmed Saturday that Washington has "agreement from the Syrians on the candidate" to be the new ambassador in Damascus. He added, "The decision reflects our growing interest in working constructively with Syria and the leaders of that country." Crowley also said that Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns will travel to Syria next week.

US Military Mission to Israel: On Sunday, Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi as well as Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and other senior IDF commanders. Discussions will include joint defense issues between Israel and the US and mutual security concerns.