Report: Syria would let Israelis stay on Golan

Syria reportedly offered to let Israelis living on the Golan Heights remain should it recover the territory.”In Syria there are many minorities – Christians, Armenians, Kurds,” Syria’s ambassador to Britain, Sami Khiyami, was quoted by Ma’ariv on Tuesday as telling a conference in London. “There would be no problem with Israelis being there too.”The remarks appeared to signal an enhancement of recent Syrian peace overtures toward Israel.Syria conditions talks on a complete return of the Golan, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed. Damascus did not immediately confirm Khiyami’s comments. Israel has said it is interested in new negotiations, but without preconditions. Some 20,000 Israelis live on the Golan.