Israel Matzav

Assad: 'So I lied'

You can all decide in the comments whether I should add a flying pig to this post because Israeli Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert told the truth. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad admitted on Monday that Israel never agreed to a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights to the June 4, 1967 borders. But he claims that's still what he wants.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Monday that there is no agreement on a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

However, he said, this would remain Syria's demand and Damascus was drawing up plans for the settlement of the areas evacuated by Israel. [Sounds like this post was right on the money. CiJ]

"We resumed the talks to regain the Golan Heights, and now we are waiting for Israel's response," Assad told reporters at a press conference held in the Persian Gulf on Monday when asked to address the recently renewed Turkish-mediated negotiations between Syria and Israel after an eight-year hiatus.

The response seems to contradict Assad's statement last month with the disclosure of the talks. In an interview with a Qatari newspaper the president said he had received a personal vow from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Israel would cede the Golan in exchange for peace.

Olmert denied the report at the time. Assad, however, only clarified the reports on Monday. "We are waiting for Israel's response, but Israel should bear in mind that Syria will not compromise on the issue of the Golan," he said.

Actually, it's a bit more than just "we are waiting for Israel's response." Assad has conditioned the existence of the 'negotiations without pre-conditions' on Israel's agreeing to give up the entire Golan.

Assad said Syria had demanded Israel's agreement to cede the Golan Heights in return for peace as a prerequisite to negotiations.

Sure sounds like a pre-condition to me.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:57 AM