Israel must strengthen its hold on the strategic region, Bar-On said. The Golan is "part of the Land of Israel" and every effort should be made to promote development there, he added. The interior minister has strongly objected to suggestions that Israel negotiate with Syria over the future of the Heights - despite reports that Syria is willing to enter into such talks "unconditionally."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office denied that it had received a letter from the Syrian President offering to enter into immediate and "unconditional" negotiations. The denial came after Arab media reported that such a letter had been sent.
Golan Heights officials told Bar-On that Syria is building civilian structures on its side of the border and is offering its citizens incentives to move to the area. In August 2006, Syria's Ba'athist government established the Popular Organization for the Liberation of the Golan. In its first communique, the group declared that "the way to restore [the Arabs'] rights has become clear, and the way [to achieve] victory and honor is the way of resistance... and Israel and the [Western] powers will be made to bear their responsibility, after they have closed off for us all [other] paths."
Speaking with the Kuwaiti Al-Ra'i Al-'Aam, a spokesman for the new Syrian organization said, "Resistance [includes] political and economic paths, and various paths of resistance alongside military action.... The organization will immediately begin its resistance actions in its general framework, and we may see, in the near future, military actions in the occupied Syrian Golan."
The Golan Heights is coming under the increasing scrutiny of Iran, as well. Iran's Ambassador to Syria said Monday, in an interview published in the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, that his nation is very invested in returning the Golan to Syrian rule. Hassan Akhtari said Iran's relationship with Syria is "excellent and strategic," although he added that the two countries could not be considered "allies." Iranian weapons destined for Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon flow through Syria, while Iran and Syria have shared interests in regional conflicts, such as in Iraq and Kurdish-majority areas in the Middle East.
Alongside those moves, however, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem was quoted by The Washington Post on Saturday as saying that Syria is prepared to negotiate with Israel "without preconditions." Syrian President Bashar Assad has stated unequivocally that Israel must relinquish the Golan Heights in any diplomatic accord; yet, Moallem told interviewer David Ingnatius that he was "expressing ideas" of his president.
Both coalition and opposition parties in Israel reject negotiations with Syria as long as that state harbors anti-Israel terrorist leaders and organization. Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, "Removing terrorist command centers from Damascus, as well as stopping Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal from operating in Syria, are Israel's preconditions for entering into talks."
Israel's Channel 2 television news analysts said on Monday that Syria is looking for a way to conduct secret negotiations with Israel, seeking to lure Israel into cooperative projects in the areas of tourism and industry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Throughout the year, Arutz-7 gives you the news
you depend on, from a perspective not found elsewhere.
This Chanukah, we ask our readers to give back.
Click Now to Pledge Your Support for Arutz-7.
or call-in to our live radio Arutz Shevathon
Thursday December 21, 8am-Midnight EST.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office denied that it had received a letter from the Syrian President offering to enter into immediate and "unconditional" negotiations. The denial came after Arab media reported that such a letter had been sent.
Golan Heights officials told Bar-On that Syria is building civilian structures on its side of the border and is offering its citizens incentives to move to the area. In August 2006, Syria's Ba'athist government established the Popular Organization for the Liberation of the Golan. In its first communique, the group declared that "the way to restore [the Arabs'] rights has become clear, and the way [to achieve] victory and honor is the way of resistance... and Israel and the [Western] powers will be made to bear their responsibility, after they have closed off for us all [other] paths."
Speaking with the Kuwaiti Al-Ra'i Al-'Aam, a spokesman for the new Syrian organization said, "Resistance [includes] political and economic paths, and various paths of resistance alongside military action.... The organization will immediately begin its resistance actions in its general framework, and we may see, in the near future, military actions in the occupied Syrian Golan."
The Golan Heights is coming under the increasing scrutiny of Iran, as well. Iran's Ambassador to Syria said Monday, in an interview published in the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, that his nation is very invested in returning the Golan to Syrian rule. Hassan Akhtari said Iran's relationship with Syria is "excellent and strategic," although he added that the two countries could not be considered "allies." Iranian weapons destined for Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon flow through Syria, while Iran and Syria have shared interests in regional conflicts, such as in Iraq and Kurdish-majority areas in the Middle East.
Alongside those moves, however, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem was quoted by The Washington Post on Saturday as saying that Syria is prepared to negotiate with Israel "without preconditions." Syrian President Bashar Assad has stated unequivocally that Israel must relinquish the Golan Heights in any diplomatic accord; yet, Moallem told interviewer David Ingnatius that he was "expressing ideas" of his president.
Both coalition and opposition parties in Israel reject negotiations with Syria as long as that state harbors anti-Israel terrorist leaders and organization. Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said, "Removing terrorist command centers from Damascus, as well as stopping Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal from operating in Syria, are Israel's preconditions for entering into talks."
Israel's Channel 2 television news analysts said on Monday that Syria is looking for a way to conduct secret negotiations with Israel, seeking to lure Israel into cooperative projects in the areas of tourism and industry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Throughout the year, Arutz-7 gives you the news
you depend on, from a perspective not found elsewhere.
This Chanukah, we ask our readers to give back.
Click Now to Pledge Your Support for Arutz-7.
or call-in to our live radio Arutz Shevathon
Thursday December 21, 8am-Midnight EST.