- Many adults in Israel believe their government should enter talks with a neighbouring nation, according to a poll by Maagar Mochot released by Israel Radio. 54 per cent of respondents support negotiations with Syria.

In August, Israeli internal security minister Avi Dichter presented a proposal to negotiate for peace with Syria in return for the Golan Heights. Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert dismissed the idea, saying, "So long as I am prime minister, the Golan Heights will remain in our hands, as it is an inseparable part of the State of Israel."

The area of the Golan Heights—approximately 1,860 square kilometres of land—was seized by Israel during the 1967 war, and annexed to its territory in 1981.

Earlier this month, in an interview published in Spain's El País, Syrian president Bashar Assad expressed his willingness to enter talks with Israel, adding, "The problem is linked to two sides not one side. This situation is linked to one thing which is peace, or maybe war if there is no peace process."

Israeli infrastructure minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer responded to Assad's statements, declaring, "Ehud Olmert will agree to conduct unconditional negotiations with Syria only if it pledges to recognize the state of Israel and make an official request for talks."

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