On Syrian- Israeli peace talks

The Israeli daily Haaretz on Monday quoted an Israeli governmental source as saying that Israel proposed to Syria an exchange of territories that would be the basis for reaching a peace agreement between the two sides.

The source added that according to this proposal Israel will keep a narrow sector of the lands situated on the northeast bank of al-Houla lake while the Syrians get the "Hemmat Ghader" area in a way that the situation of these areas will be similar to the settlement reached with Egypt over Taba, in that tourists from both sides can get into these areas without entry visas.

The paper added that the international borders pass this area at a depth of 10 meters from the coast of the lake.

Haaretz indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak desires to expend the sector and construct a road that would permit the Israelis to reach the lake following the signing of a peace agreement with Syria.

The Israeli paper also quoted the same source as saying, "If we can get a 100-150 meter wide strip along the shore, it would be very nice," adding that Barak does not want to give the Syrians a new commitment on the nature of the withdrawal to behind the June 4, 1967 borders which was proposed by former Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

The source added that Israel has not proposed any new map pertaining to borders.

The Israeli source, on the other hand, said that the US does not intend to resume direct negotiations between Syria and Israel except if it has become convinced that these negotiations will lead to signing a peace agreement between them.