Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is exploring the possibility
of renewing peace talks with Syria and has indicated he is willing
to give up the Golan Heights, a senior Israeli official said
Thursday.
Israel seized the strategic plateau from Syria in the 1967
Mideast War, and it has remained a central obstacle to better
relations between the longtime foes.
Olmert has asked a third party for information on what Syria
would offer in such negotiations, the official said, insisting on
anonymity because the disclosure was unauthorized. The third party
was not identified.
Israel wants Syria to cut ties with Iran and the anti-Israel
militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, the official said.
Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin declined comment on whether Israel
had made any overtures to Syria. But she said Olmert has repeatedly
said he is "in favor of peace with Syria."
"But he questions the desire of the present Syrian government to
arrive at a resolution and not just participate in a process,"
Eisin said.
Syrian President Bashar Assad recently said he is willing to
renew talks with Israel. Israeli officials have dismissed the
comments as a tactic to ease Syria's international isolation.
Olmert has indicated in closed meetings that Israel would be
willing to give up the Golan Heights in talks with Syria, the
official said.
"The main question is what Israel will get in response," the
official added, saying Israel fears that Syria would maintain its
ties with Iran and anti-Israel militant groups after a deal.
There was no immediate response from Damascus.
Earlier this year, a former Israeli diplomat and Syrian
businessman said they had in secret talks worked out the framework
for a peace deal between the sides. The men said the talks were
conducted with the knowledge of government officials, though
neither government approved the deal.
In the course of their talks, Syrian Ibrahim Suleiman and
Israeli Alon Liel drew up a tentative peace proposal that called
for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, and for Syria to end
support for armed extremists, including Hezbollah guerrillas who
warred with Israel last summer.
(China Daily via agencies June 1, 2007)
