The fifth round of indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria was postponed due to the resignation of the leading Israeli negotiator, Yoram Turbowitz, media reports were quoted as saying.
Yoram resigned from the position of Prime Minister's Ehud Olmert's chief of staff, and has thereafter lost his legal authority to conduct negotiations on behalf of his country. The fifth round of talks, scheduled to be held Thursday was postponed in view of the resignation. Yoram waits for orders from the Attorney General Menahem Mazuz to grant him permission to negotiate on behalf of the team.
Meanwhile, the delay has given rise to speculations among Syrian and Turkish officials on Israel's intentions. Some reports claimed that the decision was taken in the wake of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Russia and his statement on Syria's intention to buy Russian missiles.
Israel and Syria started peace talks in mid-May with Turkey as the mediator. It was alleged that the move for peace talks was to divert attention from Olmert's bribery scandal.
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