A report in an Arab newspaper Saturday said that the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell to Damascus presaged a major diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Syria. Al Quds-Al Arabi quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the breakthrough was due to the "unprecedented and intensive" negotiations conducted by Mitchell.

According to the reports, Israel has indicated a willingness to withdraw from the entire Golan Heights in exchange for international defense guarantees, as well as guarantees regarding Syria's and Lebanon's relationship with Iran.