July 31, 2007 (LPAC)--The Israeli Peace With Syria Movement held a conference yesterday calling on the Israeli government to open negotiations with Syria immediately. Hundreds of residents of the Golan Heights have already signed the Peace With Syria Movement's petition, which states: "For the past year we have heard voices that we have never heard before from Damascus. President Assad has repeatedly declared his willingness to renew the negotiations for peace with Israel." 

The conference included residents of the Golan Heights, both Jewish and Arab, who agreed that the Israeli occupied territory should be returned to Syria in exchange for peace. Former Foreign Ministry Director General Alon Liel, who is the founder and head of the movement called on Israel's government to launch negotiations with Syrian President Bashar Assad and urged U.S. President George W. Bush to allow such a move. Liel had been holding informal talks with Syrian intermediaries up until 18 months ago.