Let G be a locally compact amenable group, and A(G) and B(G) the Fourier and Fourier-Stieltjes algebras of G. For a closed subset E of G, let J(E) and k(E) be the smallest and largest closed ideals of A(G) with hull E, respectively. We study sets E for which the ideals J(E) or/and k(E) are σ(A(G),C*(G))-closed in A(G). Moreover, we present, in terms of the uniform topology of C₀(G) and the weak* topology of B(G), a series of characterizations of sets obeying synthesis. Finally, closely related to...