Le Monde: The Golan is a Syrian territory

The French daily Le Monde said that the Syrian Golan is a Syrian territory and that Israel has no right to oppose its restoration back to Syria. In its Wednesday's editorial, on the occasion of the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to Paris, the French daily said Israel cannot claim that it owns in the Golan any historical or cultural roots."

The paper quoted Barak as saying in an interview that, "To achieve peace, concessions should be made, even if these concessions are painful for Israel."

Barak added in his statement to Le Monde that he won the elections in Israel because he said the truth in this matter, adding he will "continue this mission, even if it will be painful and he will do what he says."