Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's office has ruled against opening a criminal probe against Knesset Member Prof. Aryeh Eldad (National Union). The MK said that anyone who surrenders Israeli land is subject to the death sentence, prompting Meretz MK Ran Cohen to file a complaint with the Attorney General. He made the comment after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he has agreed to open indirect talks with Syria, which demands sovereignty over the strategic Golan Heights.

MK Eldad said his statement was not meant to incite and was a direct quote of the law that calls for the death sentence for anyone who tries to give up Israeli rule on its land. The Knesset officially annexed the Golan Heights to Israel more than 25 years ago.