The American government has denied knowledge or involvement of secret contacts between Syria and Israel as reported by an Israeli newspaper. "We have said repeatedly that if Israel and Syria want to have a dialogue, then that is going to be up to the two parties to decide," American State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Thursday.

He added that the United States does not believe or see "any sort of interaction or dialogue between Syria and Israel as a substitute for moving forward on the Israeli-Palestinian track." McCormack also stated that there is no evidence that Syria wants to take a positive role in the Middle East.