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World Jewish News
Assad: Olmert agreed to give up all of the Golan
18.03.2009
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to withdraw from all of the Golan Heights during indirect peace talks with Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
In an interview which appeared in the newspaper's Wednesday editions, Assad said Israel and Syria were within "touching distance" of clinching a peace agreement.
The Syrian premier told La Repubblica that during the Turkish-mediate peace negotiations, Olmert indicated to Turkey's prime minister, Reccep Tayip Erdogan, that he is ready to relinquish all of the Golan Heights to Syria.
Assad added that both sides were very near an agreement, and that all that remained was to finalize last details over the precise route of the 1967 line which would serve as the future border between the two countries.
As both sides reached the final stages of talks, Olmert requested a pause in the talks so as to consult with his government. Shortly afterwards, Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
"Turkey became exasperated with Israel because it felt duped [because of the Gaza war]," Assad added.
The Syrian leader said he was concerned over the future of peace talks given the make-up of Israel's next government, which in all likelihood will be formed by Benjamin Netanyahu. "I see the finish line moving further away," Assad said. "I am not fearful of Netanyahu, but from the fact that Israel voted for a rightist government. This is the biggest hurdle to peace."
Earlier this month, Assad told the Gulf newspaper Al Khaleej that Damascus will negotiate with any Israeli government irrespective of its political orientation, adding that there was little difference between the political left and the right.
"One is bad and the other is awful," the Syrian leader told Al Khaleej, adding that Arab states should not hang their hopes on the ideological make-up of the Israeli cabinet.
"The right-wing is right-wing, and the left-wing is right-wing," Assad said. "The right kills Arabs and the left kills Arabs. There is no value to all of these hopes," the Syrian president said.
Assad said that a peace deal with Israel was possible but that normal relations would only be possible if Israel ended its conflict with the Palestinians.
"There will perhaps be an embassy and formalities, but if you want peace then it has to be comprehensive. We give them the choice between comprehensive peace and a peace agreement which does not have any real value on the ground," Assad told Al Khaleej.
Источник: Haaretz
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