Netanyahu: "We are ready to listen Syrian demands"

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said yesterday that he was ready to discuss Syria's demands over peace negotiations. "Our place is known, Syria must raise all its demands. On this issue, we are always open and ready to listen," Netanyahu told Israeli T.V.

Netanyahu, who marked the Jewish new year beginning Wednesday evening, is on record as opposing an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, Syria's main demand in peace talks, Al Ahrar daily said today. Syria wants talks to resume where they left off with Netanyahu's predecessor, Shimon Peres, a condition that Netanyahu has not been willing to fulfill.