Peres: Israel will not cede Golan Heights for Syria-controlled Lebanon

VIDEO - President Shimon Peres met Sunday with US Vice President Richard Cheney, who is visiting the region. The two discussed Israel's relations with Lebanon and Syria, the Iranian threat, the situation in Gaza and the various ways in which the Israeli-Palestinian peace process could be reignited.

Video courtesy of Infolive.tv

Peres told Cheney that "Israel will never agree to cede the Golan Heights in exchange for an Iranian-Syrian controlled Lebanon; and peace talks with Syria cannot begin while it keeps supplying Lebanon with weapons.

"Mass amounts of Iranian-bought weapons are making their way to Hizbullah everyday via Syria," Peres explained, "thus making it an Iranian satellite trying to take over Lebanon – just like Hamas has taken over Gaza," added Peres.

Vice President Cheney reiterated the US' sentiments on the matter, saying the US "is very concerned about the Syrians providing Hizbullah with weapons… it appears like (Syrian) President Bashar Assad is not interested in any kind of negotiation."

As for the Iranian threat, Peres told Cheney a US-led international move to stop Iran from developing new long-range missiles must be put in motion.

"Iran is investing large amount of money in developing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warhead – right under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) nose.

Peres, Cheney. Committed to peace (Photo: GPO)

"These missiles are living proof that Iran's nuclear developments have nothing to do with civilian purposes, but are rather aimed at mass destruction."

When discussing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Cheney stressed that the US was complete committed to it, and that the American administration is willing to lend whatever assistance necessary to push the negotiations further.

US President George W. Bush, he added, "can't wait to visit Israel again and celebrate its 60th anniversary."