Syrian official: Israel must return Golan Heights
Ambassador to Turkey tells Associated Press Turkish-mediated peace talks between Syria, Israel dependant on Israel committing to retreat from Golan Heights, says recent statements by Israeli government not encouraging
Syria's new ambassador to Turkey says Israel must commit to returning the Golan Heights before Damascus resumes indirect peace negotiations with the country.
However, Ambassador Nadil Kabalan tells The Associated Press that recent statements by Israel's government have not been encouraging. The Israeli Embassy declined to comment Thursday.
Turkey last year mediated several rounds of indirect talks between Syria and Israel, but the discussions were halted after Israel's offensive in Gaza. Syria has since said it is willing to resume talks that focus on Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
Two months ago, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that the Turkish-mediated talks between his country and Israel brought the two sides very close to a peace agreement.
In his interview, Assad expressed his concern over Israel's future right-wing government.
"I see the finish line becoming distant. I'm not worried about (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, but about the Israeli society's turn to the right, which is reflected in Netanyahu's rise to power. This is the greatest obstacle to peace. And this is after we were already within reach of an agreement," he said.
Assad spoke of how the talks began: "(former Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert informed Turkish Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan that he is willing to return the Golan Heights. We entered negotiations. The only thing missing was the final details in regards to the 1967 line."
On Thursday, Assad met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the two discussed a new Mideast peace push and inter-Palestinian reconciliation, the latest in a flurry of Mideast diplomacy ahead of his trip to Washington.
The talks Thursday came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Jordan's King Abdullah II for discussions to help kick-start the stalled peace process.
Abdullah tried earlier this week in Damascus to bring Syrian President Bashar Assad on board for a new approach to tackle the conflict that would involve Israel, the Palestinians and Arab states.
Abbas, Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are traveling separately to Washington later this month. Abbas won't meet hard-line Palestinian opponents like Hamas while in Damascus.
Nir Magal contributed to this report
