On May 21 Israel and Syria officially announced the resumption of peace talks frozen eight years ago. Syrian President Bashar Assad said in April peace talks would only be possible if Israel accepted his demand for a full return of the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in the 1967Arab-Israeli Six Day War.
The Iranian defense minister said following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Hassan Turkmani. "Israel is impoverished and is trying to show through reports [of peace negotiations with Syria] that it is successful on the international arena, but everyone knows this is just a tactical course and is doomed to failure."
Israel earlier said talks with Syria that stalled in 2000 could be resumed, but on the condition that Damascus first disassociate itself from Palestinian terrorist groups, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.
