Peace talks between the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, and the Syrian Foreign Minister, Faruq al-Shara, are underway in Washington. It will be the highest-level contact ever to take place between the two countries, which have been formally at war for more than 50 years. The Washington meeting is intended to lead to more intensive negotiations, centring on the future of the strategic Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. However, Israeli settlers have been protesting against any attempt to return the Golan Heights to Syria.
Last night, Mr Barak narrowly won support for the talks in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Members voted in favour of the talks by 47 votes to 31, with 24 abstentions. Mr Barak had warned MPs that failure to agree to the talks could lead to bloodshed.
