Israeli Knesset member backs withdrawal from the Golan

Israeli Knesset member Saleh Tarif (an Arab) said that the Israeli opposition blocs are making political maneuvers about the peace process with Syria and that they are opposing peace, as if the Golan is part of Israel and is not occupied.

In an interview he gave on Sunday to Israeli Radio, Tarif added: "I do not see a future for the possibility of having peace-opposing parties inside the governmental coalition if a peace agreement is reached with Syria that gains the majority in the referendum to be held."

He predicted that changes will take place in the Israeli government coalition, with several extreme right-wing parties quitting. Tarif also expected Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to gain the majority for his political statement, which he will read in the Israeli Knesset explaining his views on the situation regarding the peace process and asking for support of the Knesset.

Meanwhile, the chief of the Israeli Hadash Movement, Muhammad Barakeh, has called on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to abandon the idea of conducting a referendum on withdrawal from the Golan.