Specter 'Spins His Wheels' in Syria
CBNNews.com
January 2, 2008
CBNNews.com - Efforts by U.S. Republican Senator Arlen Specter (Pa.) to deliver a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were not successful.
According to Israeli media sources, Olmert asked the senator to tell Assad he was awaiting an answer "regarding the dynamic messages" he had conveyed to the Syrian president about negotiations.
But Assad reportedly brushed off the message saying he'd heard it many times.
On Tuesday, quoting unnamed Syrian officials, the London-based daily
al-Hayat stated that "Damascus has decided to pursue real peace with Israel…but Israel must guarantee the return of the Golan Heights to Syria" as a starting point for opening negotiations.
According to the article, Turkey is mediating covert talks between Syria and Israel, which if successful, would lead to inviting U.S. participation in direct negotiations between the countries.
A Summary of the Golan Heights
Following the 1967 Six Day War, Syria signed a disengagement agreement ceding sovereignty of the Golan Heights to Israel.
In December 1981, after developing the area's infrastructure, including its utilities, school system, agriculture, health clinics, etc., Israel annexed the Golan Heights.
Over the years, Israelis established wineries, cattle and sheep farms, nature reserves, archaeological sites, hotels, mountain biking trains, horse farms and the Mt. Hermon Ski Resort in the Golan.
"The Golan Heights are an inseparable part of the State of Israel and are essential for its security and defense," said Member of Knesset Yisrael Katz (Likud), summing up the way most Israelis feel about the Golan.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
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