Netanyahu and the Syria negotiations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replying to a question by the Israeli Army radio on Tuesday on whether he will delegate the task of negotiations with Syria to David Levy said "Special preparations in this respect will be decided if David Levy joins the government," adding that the "final decision in this respect will be the burden of the government as a whole and on its Premier in particular."

In the interview, replying to a question on whether there are current negotiations with Syria, Netanyahu said "I did not receive any message from President Hafez al-Assad in this regard," noting that, "Syria is still persistent and wants to guarantee the restoration of the whole land, rather than parts of it, which means the whole of the Golan Heights, as a precondition to join negotiations with Israel" A matter which "we eventually do not agree."

Netanyahu added that "the government is discussing the situations prevailing in south Lebanon." He said that all members of his government will visit south Lebanon next Wednesday at his "own request, and they will discuss the current situation there in the field."

Netanyahu added the Israeli government is making efforts and the current government tries to minimize Israeli losses in south Lebanon and at the same time seeks to carry out its special vision concerning withdrawal from south Lebanon in the framework of reaching security agreements.

Netanyahu added that within this framework, "there are several, but difficult, possibilities and proposals."

But what is important, he added, is to preserve the security and safety of Israel, especially the northern part and to protect the lives of the Israeli soldiers.