The attempt to bring Syria and Israel together at the Mediterranean Union (MU) began on the wrong foot Sunday when Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni began to speak and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem walked out. However, his deputy remained seated during her speech.
The summit will officially convene Sunday afternoon, but informal talks began in the morning. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said a "wind of hope" is blowing in the Middle East but added, "I regret to say discussions between Israelis and Palestinians are not part of it so far."