Peres on returning the Golan

Israeli president Shimon Peres seems to hint at a future deal for the Golan Heights if Syria is willing to renounce its support for Hizballah.

"Assad must understand that he will have to sit at the negotiations table if he wants real peace. He should not depend on mediators; he should sit at the table without any preconditions."

[..] "Assad must make a strategic choice. There is no way that Assad will get territorial concessions from Israel while at the same time maintaining ties with Hezbollah and Iran in a package deal."

The substance of Peres' remarks is not hugely different from what Avigdor Lieberman said last month: The Israelis don't want the Golan on the table as a precondition for diplomacy.

But he at least suggests Israel is willing to entertain "territorial concessions" -- returning the Golan -- in exchange for security guarantees.