Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 23, 2008 Iyyar 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:08 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 20:54 22/05/2008 Sources: Israel never pledged full withdrawal from Golan By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel, Syria Jerusalem never pledged to withdraw from the Golan Heights and return to the 1967 borders as part of peace negotiations with Syria despite the declarations of officials in Damascus, Israeli sources said Thursday in an interview with Channel 10. The sources also said that Jerusalem had initially intended to wait for direct negotiations to begin before publicizing news of renewed contact, but Syria had wanted the talks to be made public imminently. The sources added that a date has not yet been set for the next round of negotiations. Advertisement Syrian Information Minister Muhsin Bilal told Al Jazeera television on Thursday that Damascus had received guarantees from Israel via Turkey for a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights and rejected conditions put forth for concluding a peace deal. "We received commitments and messages from the Israeli government and the Israeli prime minister that guarantee, via the Turks, that he knows what the Syrians want," Bilal said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem made a similar declaration Wednesday night during a visit to Bahrain. He said Israel had commited to withdrawing to the June 4, 1967 lines, noting that this was not a new development. "Already in 1993 the late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin commited to this, and since then all other prime ministers have followed," the Syrian minister said. A source in the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday denied the Syrian assertion, saying: "During the talks Israel did not make any preliminary promises on the Golan Heights and did not refer to the promises made by Rabin." He was referring to a 1994 promise Rabin made to U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, that if Syria met Israel's security conditions, Israel would withdraw from the Golan Heights. A recent survey found that about two-thirds of Israelis object to withdrawing from the Golan Heights even for peace with Syria - more than those who object to dividing Jerusalem for ending the conflict with the Arab world. Related articles: Olmert: Israel,Syria both know what they need to do for peace Olmert to Haaretz: Syria contacts are 'historic breakthrough' Netanyahu: Golan pullout would put Israel on Iran's front lines Poll: More Israelis object to Golan accord than to Jerusalem deal Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   Shambolic 21:03  |  Leo 22/05/08   2.   phew. we shd have known. 21:09  |  frenz 22/05/08   3.   JUST FORGET IT!! 21:16  |  Ian 22/05/08   4.   So Aren`t You Glad You Started talks With Syria! 21:20  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 22/05/08   5.   Don`t move an inch! 21:28  |  Webster 22/05/08   6.   If and when Israel retreat from the Golan it will only be to the 21:44  |  Amihai 22/05/08   7.   Doublespeak from land of make believe 22:08  |  Joe 22/05/08   8.   We all know what the Syrians (arabs) want 22:15  |  Binyamin Dissen 22/05/08   9.   "if Syria met Israel`s security conditions" 22:20  |  McQueen 22/05/08   10.   ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE 22:53  |  Javed Shah 22/05/08   11.   Peace Now 23:10  |  GS 22/05/08   12.   Golan is not a pledgling for" full"withdrawl 23:57  |  Zev/CA 22/05/08   13.   Javed Shah 00:16  |  ChanahS 23/05/08   14.   ChanahS re Javed Shah 00:50  |  Maki 23/05/08   15.   #7 JOE. YOUR FREUDIAN SLIP IS SHOWING!! 01:00  |  Ian 23/05/08   16.   Good if you`ve got a black sense of humor 01:03  |  Colin Wright 23/05/08   17.   Not gonna impress the Americans 01:49  |  Johnboy 23/05/08   18.   Syria is NOT offering any peace 02:09  |  Realist 23/05/08   19.   Transparency of Colin Wright 02:38  |  JP 23/05/08   20.   Too bad Dayan spilled his guts 20:03  |  Brute snapper 23/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: The Palestinians' time is running out Responses: 230 West backs Lebanese gov't capitulation to Hezbollah Responses: 114 Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected Responses: 126 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks Responses: 97 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' jibe Responses: 72 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? Blame the Israel Lobby for Clinton's loss? (WTR) Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Why Obama needs Florida Jews? (WTR) More Headlines 20:10 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks 16:55 Palestinians: IDF kills 5 in Gaza; soldier hurt by anti-tank missile 21:35 Israeli warplanes come close to shooting down Tony Blair's plane 12:52 Olmert questioned for second time; Talansky to testify Tuesday 20:57 Syria hesitant to let IAEA inspect alleged nuke site hit by IAF 21:44 Report: Singer Amy Winehouse to undergo drug rehab in Israel 22:08 'Israeli Big Lebowski' captures top student prize at Cannes 16:32 Amid talks, Golan gets first mall, and development booms 20:11 Secret Holocaust hero has reputation restored in new books, film 20:10 Olmert: Not sure how long I'll be PM, but won't give up peace talks 20:12 Israeli settlement expansion can't be justified, French FM says 09:14 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' comment Previous Editions Select Day 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may

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