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Israeli Policy on Syrian Access to Kinneret Not Changed: Barak
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday Israel is still open to peace talks with Syria, but its policy on the sovereignty of the northeast bank of Lake Kinneret is not changed.
Speaking at Sunday morning's weekly cabinet meeting, Barak reiterated the extent of Israeli withdrawal from the strategic Golan Heights, which Israel occupied during the 1967 Middle East War, depends on security arrangement between the two countries.
Anyway, he added, the northeast shore of Lake Kinneret will remain under Israeli control, according to a statement issued by Barak's office after the meeting.
Barak was responding to his Justice Minister Yossi Beilin's early remarks on the Israeli-Syrian talks.
Beilin, one of the prime minister's closest aides, indicated on Saturday night that the government might agree to give Damascus some access to the Kinneret in order to renew talks with Syria.
The extent of Israeli troops withdrawal from the Golan Heights and the correlative problem about the control over a strip of shore northeast of the Kinneret are the major contention points between the two sides, which broke off their talks in January.
It is estimated that Syria's new ruler Basher al-Assad will firstly consolidate his power base in the country before reopening peace talks with Israel.
However, Beilin sent a signal to Bashar Saturday night that Israel will consider proposals on Lake Kinneret sovereignty made by British journalist Patrick Seale, who is the official biographer of Hafez al-Assad and the most closest western friend of the late Syrian president.
Under Seale's plan, which was published several months ago, the waters of the Kinneret will remain under Israeli mandate, the United Nations will control the northeast bank of the lake, and Syria will be given free access to swimming and fishing in the Kinneret.
"I think this is an interesting suggestion. This is a basis," said the justice minister.
But Barak said in Sunday's statement that he and his Foreign Minister David Levy believe that ministers who issue opinions contrast to the government's stands are irresponsible.
The cabinet was convened for the first time in two weeks, during which Barak avoided a government crisis and managed to persuade ministers from the rebellious Shas party back into the cabinet at the last minute.
Most of the ultra-orthodox religious party's demands, including government funding for its educational network, legalizing its pirate radio stations, and having a say in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, have been met in the process.
Eli Yishai, Labor and Social Affairs Minister and leader of the Shas party, attended Sunday morning's cabinet meeting.
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