Israelis Learn of Government’s Syrian Offer from Syria

The Syrian government has confirmed media reports of an offer by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert — transmitted to Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — to abandon the Golan Heights in its entirety in exchange for peace with Syria. Olmert’s refusal to deny the reports which were first released by a Syrian news agency coupled with confirmation of the report by a Syrian cabinet minister have left Israelis angry that they were not told of a deal of such magnitude by their own government. A parliamentarian from Olmert’s own party has announced that he will immediately introduce legislation requiring that any such deal be brought before the public in a referendum, while other members of the Qadima party slammed Olmert. Right wing legislators normally critical of efforts to cede the Golan Heights this time were joined by others who slammed the prime minister for making approaches to Syria while it is actively supporting Hizbullah terrorists on Israel’s northern border and is supportive of Iran.