According to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who was quoting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, explained Syria is now willing to back down from demands for an unconditional Israeli retreat from the Golan Heights as a precondition to resuming negotiations with Israel.

The prime minister explained that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad informed French leaders he is willing to enter into talks with Israel, but it appears he is not ready for direct negotiations, seeking to continue mediated negotiations as in the past. Syria still prefers Turkey as the mediator, but Netanyahu indicated at present, Israel prefers France, due to Turkey’s staunch anti-Israel position following Operation Cast Lead.

Netanyahu indicated Syria’s new position is a welcome one and he is hopeful that it will lead to renewed talks between Jerusalem and Damascus.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)