Reply #1: Golan Heights shrugs off peace talks [View All]

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"Syria's decision to attend the Annapolis summit on Mideast peace has raised the prospect of negotiations with Israel over the Golan Heights. But Israeli settlers say they are not worried the strategic plateau may return to Syrian control, pointing to a long history of failed attempts to settle the dispute.

Syria agreed to send its deputy foreign minister to the Mideast conference Monday after the United States said Damascus would be free to bring up the Golan Heights, which Israel seized 40 years ago.

Syria has said peace would require Israel to return the Golan, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has signaled he is ready to do so.

Israeli settlers living in the territory doubt anything will change soon.

"This is a ritual that repeats itself and never leads to anything," said Sammy Bar-Lev, the mayor of Katzrin, the largest Jewish town in the Golan, with 7,500 residents. "We're not dealing with this at all. If they (Syria) want peace, they will have to get used to the fact that the border is not changing."

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