Barak supports peace with Syria

JERUSALEM, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Israel should renew peace negotiations with Syria, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at Sunday's cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

A peace accord with Syria will serve Israel's vital interests such as security arrangements, deterrence, demilitarization, water and diplomatic relations, Haaretz quoted the defense minister saying.

Vice Prime Minister Eli Yishai rejected Barak's stand, saying such negotiations will be pointless as long as Damascus continues its ties with Iran, the newspaper said.

Last week, after a meeting with French President Nikolas Sarkozy, Syria President Bashar Assad was quoted by SANA Syrian news agency saying he views resistance as an alternative solution if Israel refuses to return the Golan Heights,

Referring to the deadlock in the Israel Palestinian peace process, Barak told ministers the failure to reach an agreement will increase support for Palestinians to unilaterally declare their own state, the paper said.

Israel has been ruling another people for 42 years, Barak said, adding "we must end this. Israel has security interests, nothing needs to be done at any price, but we must not become confused, it is our duty to reach an agreement with the Palestinian people," Ynetnews.com quoted him saying.