Golan settlers send a message to Barak

The secretary of the settlement Cepotsic movement in the occupied Golan Heights, Dov Helman, has called on Irsaeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak that the principle of not giving up any settlement in the Golan will be the basis for Syrian - Israeli negotiations.

In a message to Barak, Helman urged setting out a precondition of not dismantling any Israeli settlement in the Golan and stressed the importance of keeping the Israeli settlements there in case a peace agreement is reached between Israel and Syria.

For his part, one settler leader in the Golan, Uri Hatiz, said that keeping the settlements in the Golan and carrying out a general referendum on any agreement with Syria should be a main precondition for any move towards achieving peace with Syria, Israel Radio reported.