Israel rebuffed a peace-or-else ultimatum issued by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Assad told a German newspaper Sunday that his country sought peace with Israel but could resort to war if necessary, an apparent reference to Syria’s bedrock demand that it regain all of the Golan Heights under any accord. “I don’t say that Israel should be wiped off the map. We want to make peace with Israel,” Assad told Der Spiegel. “But my personal opinion, my hopes for peace, could change one day. And if this hope disappears, then war may really be the only solution.” The comments were rejected by Israeli officials, who have long insisted that Syria should not impose preconditions for peace
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