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Last update - 09:48 26/05/2008
Netanyahu, on Syria talks: Peace with dictatorial state won't last
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Ehud Olmert, Turkey, Israel 

Opposition leader and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening issued another condemnation of the renewed peace talks between Israel and Syria, blasting the notion of a withdrawal from the Golan Heights, Israel Radio reported.

"We must not leave the Golan Heights because of its strategic height. We must not make peace with a dictatorial regime - because this will be a peace that we will not be able to protect," Netanyahu said at a meeting held by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

On Thursday, the Likud Chairman warned that a withdrawal from the Golan Heights would put Israel on Iran's front lines.
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Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the negotiations with Syria would be conducted with "the due responsibility and care," adding that Israel must take care not to let excitement over the renewed contacts affect its ability to reach significant results.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert said, "The negotiations with Syria will be conducted seriously, with the due responsibility and care, and not through media messages."

The negotiations between Israel and Syria resumed last week after an eight-year hiatus. They are being conducted indirectly, through Turkish mediation.

At the cabinet meaning, Olmert also touted the line of convert talks, saying such a method allows for more successful negotiations.

He cited past periods of negotiations with Syria as example, pointing out that then too, the details of talks were kept for the most part under wraps.

The prime minister said that Israel was treating the renewed negotiations with precision to avoid returning to the political situation "of 10 years ago," adding that the security situation facing Israel today was more sensitive in the past.

"We will form a steering committee comprising all the relevant officials and the government will be updated accordingly. We must be careful not to let the fervor affect our ability to reach significant results," he said.

Meanwhile, a Turkish official close to the talks said on Sunday that Israel has expressed interest in holding direct negotiation with Syria, while Damascus prefers to maintain contact through Ankara's mediation, according to Army Radio.

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      1.   Israel in talks with Syria, Fatah, Hamas (truce) 12:48  |  Sam 25/05/08
      2.   OK, we are reassured 13:21  |  Kadima supporter 25/05/08
      3.   Olmert is a liability 13:27  |  K 25/05/08
      4.   I cannot believe these words 13:31  |  K 25/05/08
      5.   Olmert choreography... 13:49  |  Esther 25/05/08
      6.   covert talks 13:53  |  ron 25/05/08
      7.   Clouded judgement ?Olmert`s insanity what should worry everyone 13:53  |  Sal 25/05/08
      8.   Embarrassed to be Israeli 14:06  |  tony harris 25/05/08
      9.   Olmert is certain U.S. Obama 14:17  |  Avi 25/05/08
      10.   Olmert has no sense of responsibility 14:33  |  Chaim Gorenstein 25/05/08
      11.   Our judgement is affected by fervor over OLMERT ! 14:40  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/05/08
      12.   a PM under criminal investigation should be suspended! 14:41  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/05/08
      13.   OLMERT: you are Israel´s number ONE "baja"! 14:43  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/05/08
      14.   Translation 15:30  |  Mark Lincoln 25/05/08
      15.   ALLMART MUST GO FIRST! 15:50  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 25/05/08
      16.   What did Olmert say in 2006 -the opposite of course. 15:51  |  fred 25/05/08
      17.   MOSHIACH WORKING TO BREAKUP ALL SORTS OF POLITICAL MAFIAS))) 15:51  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 25/05/08
      18.   israel too strong to turn down peace with syria... 15:55  |  bashar 25/05/08
      19.   this is a most grevious error of words 16:06  |  K 25/05/08
      20.   Why We Need Peace With Syria 16:20  |  Raanan Geberer 25/05/08
      21.   Raanan Geberer 16:37  |  tony harris 25/05/08
      22.   #20 U confuse the Aggressors from the victims!!!! 16:42  |  Ben 25/05/08
      23.   For Raananala 16:42  |  Steve 25/05/08
      24.   "peace in a hurry" 16:52  |  Sam 25/05/08
      25.   An Old Manuscript-Franz Kafka 16:52  |  Steve 25/05/08
      26.   Israel will return Golan in exchange for the right to keep Olmert 16:56  |  Kadima supporter 25/05/08
      27.   Are we a ship of fools? 17:00  |  Michael 25/05/08
      28.   Olmert Probe Sould Further Derail Skulduggery Extortions 17:14  |  Joseph . E 25/05/08
      29.   Correction 17:22  |  Michael 25/05/08
      30.   # 18. bashar. Well said, it so true. 17:25  |  Stephen. 25/05/08
      31.   #14, Marc Lincoln - I share your realism 17:44  |  christoph 25/05/08
      32.   To # 26 Kadima Supporter - What you need 20:47  |  Dolly 25/05/08
      33.   A reminder, you insulted your allies... 01:56  |  George Lee 26/05/08
      34.   #18 Bashar-Israel is TOO strong to recognize terrorists 02:33  |  Pastor Joseph 26/05/08
      35.   #30 Stephan....Bad Advice...Poor Judgment.. No Wisdom! 02:37  |  Pastor Joseph 26/05/08
      36.   not? what about egypt, jordan, saudi arabia? 03:57  |  hidom 26/05/08
      37.   Peace with Egypt has and is lasting. Egypt is no democracy! 03:32  |  Sam 26/05/08
      38.   so peace with Egypt and Jordan won`t last? 05:17  |  Jacob 26/05/08
      39.   Michael # 27 06:42  |  northern neighbor 26/05/08
      40.   A sensible decision by Syria... 09:57  |  Maureen Ann 26/05/08
      41.   #35 moaning ann and lessons in diplomacy from oz 10:14  |  victor hardman 26/05/08
      42.   #35 Pastor Joseph. What rubbish you write. 11:16  |  Stephen. 26/05/08
      43.   # 33. George Lee. Maybe the US is in the loop. 12:55  |  Stephen. 26/05/08
      44.   What Netanyahu has to say, or not... 13:12  |  Esther 26/05/08
      45.   To Jacob # 38 - Peace with Egypt/Jordan 13:22  |  Dagma 26/05/08
      46.   tony harris #8 13:26  |  Dror 26/05/08
      47.   The only plus side 13:29  |  Dror 26/05/08
      48.   BIBI GO GET `IM! 14:25  |  Natasha 26/05/08
      49.   Egypt, Jordan Not State Sponsors of Terror; Saudi Is 15:03  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 26/05/08
      50.   How long, how long? 15:48  |  utagawa 26/05/08
      51.   I admire Netanyahu for his sound patriotism! 15:54  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/05/08
      52.   ESTHER: the difference: neither Egypt nor Jordan are terrorists! 15:57  |  AliciaYsmeen 26/05/08
      53.   Falafel Stand. 16:24  |  Baz Mann 26/05/08
      54.   Why only WORDS ,,, and no ACTION ? 16:39  |  The Threadmill 26/05/08
      55.   #53 Baz Man on dictatorships 17:16  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/05/08
      56.   PEACE DEAL WITH EGYPT: WILL IT LAST, BIBI? 17:34  |  indrajaya 26/05/08
      57.   To # 53 Baz Mann - Crude no doubt..... 17:53  |  Natasha 26/05/08
      58.   Bibi is right but misses the opportunity in it 18:45  |  Mark B. 26/05/08
      59.   Netanyahu is right 02:09  |  Brod 17/06/08
      60.   NO DAH! NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT BIBI;EXCEPT TALK... 04:43  |  glenne 17/06/08
      61.   Negotiations with Unreliable Partners will lead to Disasterous... 04:46  |  Edward 17/06/08
      62.   Israel-Syria peace talks 04:36  |  Boris 18/06/08
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