Western sources expect Syrian- Israeli negotiations to be resumed within two weeks

Western diplomatic sources stated that high-ranking contacts that have been made by US President Bill Clinton with both Syria and Israel reveal optimism over resuming negotiations in Shepherdstown within two weeks.

These sources said in a statement to the London-based al-Hayat daily issued on Wednesday that they expect the negotiations to be resumed on the level of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, who seems likely to keep his post in the new Syrian government.