Olmert: Israel cannot meet Syria's demand on Golan

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Syria was setting an "impossible threshold" for peace talks by demanding Israel commit to withdraw fully from the occupied Golan Heights before negotiations resume. Meanwhile, Iran on Sunday dismissed as a "media game" recent reports of a secret arms deal with Syria allegedly made in return for an agreement that Damascus would not hold peace talks with Israel.

Assad said earlier this week that Syria would resume peace talks in the presence of an honest broker if Israel first provided a guarantee that it would return the Golan Heights.

In remarks broadcast on Saturday by Israel's Channel 10 television, Olmert said Israel was ready to withdraw from the Golan. "Of course we will have to make concessions but can I make commitments even before the beginning of negotiations and promise that I will withdraw from the entire Golan Heights?" He said Assad's demand "creates conditions that set an impossible threshold for the start of negotiations."

Assad had also said that a third country recently offered to serve as a mediator with Israel. Olmert said any talks with Syria must be direct. "I want to make peace with all Arab states and I want to do so through direct negotiations, as was the case with Egypt and Jordan."