Sharon: Israel will stay in Golan Heights

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says that Israel will never retreat from the Golan Heights or negotiate with the Syrian government.

The Jerusalem Post also reported that Sharon told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel will not interfere in Palestinian Authority elections to keep Hamas from running. But he said that Israel will not assist with the elections if Hamas runs or work with any government that includes Hamas.

In the committee meeting, Sharon discussed the U.N. investigation of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and its possible effect on the Syrian government.

Yuval Steinitz, a member of the Knesset, told the Post that Sharon called discussion of leaving the Golan Heights "a grave mistake."

"I will not negotiate with Syria because I will never leave that area," Steinitz quoted the prime minister as saying.