Israel and Syria said today they had begun indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey, the first confirmation of negotiations between the long-time enemies in eight years.
In coordinated statements, Israel and Syria said they had begun 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.
Ehud Olmert confirmed today that Israel is holding talks with Syria
The United States said it did "not object" but repeated its criticism of Syria's "support of terrorism" - a reminder for many analysts that US hostility to Damascus, and to its Iranian and Lebanese Hizbullah allies, makes a Syria-Israel deal unlikely before President George W. Bush steps down in January.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who revealed the talks two days before he faces a police interrogation over corruption allegations, said the process would be long, complex and could end in "difficult concessions" for Israel - an apparent reference to his willingness to hand back the Golan Heights.
"It's always better to talk than shoot," Mr Olmert said, without spelling out what concessions he was thinking of. Just eight months ago, Israeli jets bombed what US officials have called a North Korean-designed nuclear facility in Syria.
An Israeli statement, echoed by one from Syria, said the two sides would now "conduct dialogue in a serious and continuous manner with the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace".
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said Israel had shown that it might return the Golan: "Without this commitment we cannot conduct any negotiation," he said.
An Israeli official said Mr Olmert had given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an unspecified "formula" on the Heights.
Israel took the plateau between Damascus and the Sea of Galilee in 1967. It held on to it in another war in 1973. The last peace talks broke down in 2000 over control of the shore of the lake, from which Israel draws much of its water.
For the United Nations, which maintains peacekeepers in the Golan, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised Mr Assad and Mr Olmert as well as the Turkish government for its efforts as go-between for delegations from the two sides who met this week in Istanbul.
Among Mr Olmert's vast army of domestic critics, supporters of the 18,000 Jewish settlers in the Golan threatened to bolt his fragile coalition if he tries to give up the territory.
Others wondered aloud if the announcement was not timed to divert attention from Mr Olmert's troubles with the police. They will interview him for a second time on Friday over suspicions he took bribes from an American businessman. He denies it.
A snap Israeli television poll found 70 per cent of people opposed giving back the Golan, and a majority also believing Mr Olmert was using the talks to distract from domestic problems.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Washington was not surprised by the announcement: "We hope that this is a forum to address various concerns we all have with Syria - Syria's support of terrorism, repression of its own people."
Turkish officials said the talks were likely to continue in rounds lasting several days, once or twice a month. Two Olmert aides returned to Israel today after two days in Turkey.
Israeli officials pledged that a peace process with Syria would not come at the expense of statehood talks with the Palestinians that Washington hopes can achieve a deal this year.
In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: "We hope that the two parties will reach a peaceful solution."