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Last update - 19:21 05/11/2008
Golan residents launch PR offensive as Syria talks loom
By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: peace process, Israel News 

The board of Golan communities is launching a public relations campaign in the wake of media reports of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's intention to resume peace talks with Syria.

A prospective peace deal with Syria is likely to include the evacuation of Golan settlements, to which Golan residents overwhelmingly oppose.

The board has recruited some 50 local residents and started training them as spokespersons, expecting a blitz of media interest in the region ahead of a potential evacuation.
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"A person should learn how to put a message across concisely, in one or two sentences," Eli Malka, head of Golan Regional Council, said. "We must not miss this opportunity. The communities living here are the Golan's biggest asset, and we intend to capitalize on this asset."

The media training workshops resumed a few weeks ago after being suspended some seven years earlier when the Israel-Syria peace process was discontinued.

A board spokesperson said that "we don't expect them to regurgitate press releases they learned by heart. We want them to tell their own personal story, like one family who settled in the Golan after moving out of the Tel Aviv area. When the moment comes, we want them to be well prepared."

"Every mention of looming talks brings up masses of media," Malka said. "We want to utilize this phenomenon to bring our message across to the public, with fewer slogans, and a genuine effort to engage in dialogue."

Related articles:
  • Mazuz: Syria talks can go on even as government prepares for elections
  • Livni: Syria must cut Iran, terror ties before we give it what it wants
  • Report: Bush offered to press Israel to quit Golan if Syria cuts Iran ties
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      1.   Why does Olmert want Kayushas, Scuds, and Grads in the Golan? 17:50  |  AniAshkeloni 05/11/08
      2.   Golan 18:36  |  Lauren Helfand 05/11/08
      3.   Land and water thieves, not "settlers 18:52  |  james 05/11/08
      4.   To James 19:20  |  Avi 05/11/08
      5.   Nice to live on stolen land eh? Don`t wanna leave 19:32  |  Philip 05/11/08
      6.   A history lesson for Philip in Hertzlia 19:46  |  Golani 05/11/08
      7.   To James 20:18  |  christa 05/11/08
      8.   The people of Israel are against giving away the Golan. 20:30  |  Jean Van Daem 05/11/08
      9.   I Want Damascus, and Assad Knows I Expect Damascus 20:54  |  Ken Jurist 05/11/08
      10.   you can either have the Land or peace, you will never have both 21:22  |  a guy from canada 05/11/08
      11.   Israel`s security would be Syrian communities on the Golan 21:29  |  Ivar 05/11/08
      12.   How is the land stolen when Syria started the conflict, twice. 21:31  |  David G 05/11/08
      13.   #12 David: Jews were never supposed to defend themselves. 21:51  |  AniAshkeloni 05/11/08
      14.   Re #3 Land and water thieves, not "settlers 22:03  |  Michael 05/11/08
      15.   3 22:15  |  zionist forever 05/11/08
      16.   #14 Michael: Sore losers 22:16  |  AniAshkeloni 05/11/08
      17.   Golani - effete...snobs 22:23  |  david 05/11/08
      18.   A Peaceful Golan Heights 23:28  |  E. Cohen 05/11/08
      19.   The Golan Heights 23:40  |  The Threadmill 05/11/08
      20.   david G your Logic? 23:58  |  American in NY 05/11/08
      21.   @10 the rockets will fall what ever Israel would do 00:00  |  Jew- and Bookburner 06/11/08
      22.   #12, DAVID G, shows that lies are truths 00:46  |  VIPER 06/11/08
      23.   #18, C COHEN, live together? what? 00:50  |  VIPER 06/11/08
      24.   To David from Tucson 01:01  |  Golani 06/11/08
      25.   The people of Israel want PEACE with its neighbors. 01:23  |  Benny K. 06/11/08
      26.   Golan Jews Against Peace raises from the dead!! 03:48  |  Pablo B 06/11/08
      27.   # 18 E Cohen and # 23 VIPER 05:09  |  zaz 06/11/08
      28.   #27, ZAZ, i have always called for peace 02:18  |  VIPER 07/11/08
      29.   Van Daem (#8) 05:33  |  jjvanka 07/11/08
      30.   Re #16 17:40  |  Michael 13/11/08
      31.   Re #3 and #5 17:47  |  Michael 13/11/08
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