Israel, Syria reveal peace talks in Turkey

Israel and Syria said yesterday they had launched indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials in Istanbul, the first confirmation of negotiations between the two neighbors in eight years.

In coordinated statements, the two governments said they had launched an open dialogue with the aim of a comprehensive peace. Turkey said delegations of both countries, officially at war since Israel's creation 60 years ago, were already in Istanbul.

"It will be a very long process. The direct talks themselves have not yet started," said a senior Israeli official, an expert on Israeli-Syrian relations.