Israel and Syria have been in contact through third parties for "some time," but the mediators have been unable to get the two sides to resume peace talks, an Israeli official said Wednesday. In a speech Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar Assad said a third country recently offered to serve as a mediator with Israel. The country, which he did not identify, has mediated in the past, "but there was nothing serious and clear," he said. Israeli media speculated Assad was referring to Turkey. "In recent weeks this side and this country stepped up its contacts on the same subject," he said. Assad said he would be willing to send someone to the country, but would not hold direct talks with Israelis. "They might ask for an Israeli person to be in another hotel. This is the maximum we are willing to do," he said.
In Damascus on Wednesday, Syrian lawmaker Mohammad Habash said negotiations could not take place until the Israelis commit to leave the Golan Heights, a condition also posed by Assad during his speech. Israel captured the strategic plateau in the Six Day War. "When the Israelis say they are ready to give up the Golan, only then peace talks could be resumed," Habash told The Associated Press, adding that Assad was "flexible" about accepting assurances through a third party.