Assad: “Peace Talks With Israel Hindered by Obama Inaction”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will deliver a message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Syrian leader Bashar Assad during the latter's visit to Paris on Friday, relaying Israel's desires to renew “peace negotiations” immediately without preconditions.

The French newspaper La Figaro on Friday quoted Assad as saying that U.S. President Barack Obama represented a weak point in the efforts to renew negotiations. "The American godfather needs to draw up a plan of action and take his own initiative, not wait for others," said the Syrian President.

According to the pan-Arab satellite television station Al Arabiya, “Netanyahu has expressed willingness to withdraw from the Golan to the borders of June 4, 1967”. Netanyahu also reportedly stressed that he is interested in a meeting with Assad, without preconditions. The Prime Minister's Bureau on Thursday denied reports that Netanyahu had relayed a message to Assad. However, political sources in Tel Aviv said that Netanyahu is also examining the possibility that France will replace Turkey as a mediator between Israel and Syria.

In recent days the Syrian president has made a number of declarations on “peace” with Israel. Earlier this week he warned that if negotiations fail this would lead to "resistance" as an alternative. Speaking at the forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Assad explained that "resistance to occupation is a national obligation," calling it "a moral obligation and legitimate, and something to be proud of."

However, Assad also said that resistance "does not contradict his permanent wish to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the return of occupied territory." On Wednesday, Assad said he does not propose any preconditions for negotiations with Israel. "Resistance is the reality of our policy in the past and in the future. We have no preconditions for peace, but we cannot ignore our rights," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi reiterated in recent weeks his support for the resumption of “peace talks” with Syria. "We should not be disheartened by Assad," he said during private conversations. A source present in meetings where Ashkenazi spoke said that the chief of staff explained that "Israel has a strategic interest in disassociating Syria from the extremist axis that Iran is leading." "Syria is not lost," Ashkenazi declared. "Assad is western educated and is not a religious man. He can still join a moderate grouping."

The issue of talks with Syria is one of the few things on which Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak see eye to eye. Barak recently said in Tel Aviv that "we should not belittle the signals of peace coming from Syria.