Sarid calls for Israel's withdrawal from the Golan

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Thursday received the chairman of the Israeli opposition Meretz movement, Yossi Sarid. Following the meeting Sarid said his discussions with President Mubarak were good, during which "multiple aspects of the Middle East peace process were reviewed."

Sarid stressed the need to achieve peace with Syria and Israel's withdrawal from the Golan. Sarid also called upon the Israeli Likud government to carry out the Wye River agreement.

He noted that Israeli public opinion is concerned toward the current Israeli government led by Netanyahu, adding that the Israelis have a desire to achieve peace.

Meanwhile, Israeli Knesset member Azmi Bishara stated that the negotiates that take place between Palestine and Israel could not be applied to Syria because Syria's destiny is not connected to the negotiations as it for the Palestinian authority.

He added that Syria is a sovereign state, and it will not give up a piece of its land. He said the choice of peace with Syria is strategic for Israel and with Syria as a state of history in this area which sees itself as integral to the remainder of the Arab dimension in the conflict.