Syria's Assad reveals Israeli offer to return Golan

Damascus - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad revealed that Israel has sent a message to Damascus through Turkey that it would withdraw from the Golan Heights in return for peace, a Qatar-based newspaper said Thursday. Assad told al-Watan newspaper that Syria and Israel have been exchanging messages since April 2007 through Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 'Erdogan told me that Israel was ready to pull out from the Golan in return for peace with Syria,' al-Assad said. 'Mediation efforts between Damascus and Tel Aviv intensified mainly after the war on Lebanon in summer 2006,' al-Assad added. The Syrians say Israel's full withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which it seized in the 1967 war, is a pre-requisite to resumpe peace talks. Israel wants Syria to end its support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups. Erdogan's mediation was very fruitful, al-Assad said. 'We need to find a common ground through the Turkish mediator,' the Syrian leader said. 'There will not be any secret talks with Israel. Any talks will be public but not direct. Talks will be conducted though Turkey,' al-Assad added. Erdogan is due to visit Damascus Saturday to take part in the Syrian-Turkish business council meeting.

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