Golan Heights. Overlooking Syria
Photo: Effie Shrir
'Olmert the interrogee won't move us away from here'
Golan Heights Council head says public 'will not allow government to transfer strategic Golan Heights to Arab axis of evil'
Golan Heights residents on Wednesday called the negotiations with Syria “an
irresponsible act,” and like Knesset members,
they too made a connection between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s investigation
and the timing chosen to advertise the negotiations.
Golan Council head Eli Malka said that “the prime minister is willing to provide concessions regarding the Israeli region and to pass it on to the Syrians and Iranians and thus, is endangering Israel’s existence.
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“The Israeli public will not allow such a strange and irresponsible act that will transfer strategic and settled land to the Arab axis of evil,” he added.
Malka and Katzrin Council head Sammy Bar-Lev issued a combined statement saying that “the Prime Minister’s Office’s declaration which is presently trying in every way possible to pull Olmert away from the prongs of investigation, is a cynical and dangerous act and places personal interests above national ones.”
On Wednesday, talk of negotiations turned into the main topic of discussion in the Golan Heights, where a current construction boom is occurring in the city of Katzrin and in 32 other Golan communities.
According to the residents, there is a rise in people interested in moving to the Golan. “Neither (Benjamin) Netanyahu or (Ehud) Barak managed to move us from the Golan Heights. Olmert doesn’t have a chance to do so either," said both council heads.
