American Jewish leader says visited Syria on 'humanitarian' mission, not for Israel talks.
WASHINGTON - American Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein visited Damascus for talks last month with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about humanitarian issues, reports said Monday. Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations, told the news organization Politico that he went to Damascus on a humanitarian mission about 10 days ago. "I am for four decades involved in humanitarian issues and concerns, and we held discussions about humanitarian issues," Hoenlein was quoted as saying. Roslyn Singer, representing Hoenlein, confirmed the meeting took place. "Mr. Hoenlein did meet recently with Syrian President Assad, but we have not issued any statements about his visit," Singer said in an email. Hoenlein could not immediately be reached for comment. Hoenlein told Israel's Haaretz newspaper that he went to Damascus after being invited there by the Syrian presidential palace. The Jewish leader said he did not travel there as a messenger of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or as a mediator between Israel and Syria. "I went to Damascus on an important humanitarian issue to the Jewish people," Hoenlein was quoted as saying. "Netanyahu did not ask anything from me and any attempt to link me to the diplomatic process with Syria is manipulation." Syria and Israel resumed in May 2008 indirect peace talks under Turkish auspices, which were interrupted after Israel launched a military offensive against the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip in December the same year. |
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