The Israelis and negotiations with Syria

Israeli Radio on Wednesday quoted the Israeli daily Haartez as saying that outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is ending his term of office as a prime minister, has recommended that Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak pursue and follow up a tough and firm policy towards Palestinian President Yaaser Arafat and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

The paper quoted Israeli foreign minister Ariel Sharon as admitting and asserting that he used to halt negotiations with Syria. The paper continued that Sharon suspended "informal third-party talks with Syria, which according to government sources, occurred last fall after the Syrians insisted upon a Golan withdrawal map from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

The paper continued that Syria has asserted it has received a proposal from Benjamin Netanyahu one year ago that provides for restoring the Golan, but the Syrian side refused the said proposal. The Israeli paper quoted Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa as saying that European Union peace process coordinator Miguel Moratinos "said Netanyahu was ready to give us those commitments in secret but we refused."

Meanwhile, Israel Radio said in its Wednesday report that Netanyahu also recommended that Barak pursue his same foreign policy toward the leaders of the Arab states and the US.

The radio added that Netanyahu briefed Barak on the details of negotiations between Syria and Israel made through Jewish billionaire Ron Lauder, who carried out nine shuttle tours between Damascus and Israel and conveyed messages.