JERUSALEM (EJP)--- Israeli officials and politicians have expressed their deep concern over reported comments by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana who told a news conference in Syria on Wednesday that he backed a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

One Israeli government official slammed the comments. "This is not the message that Syria needed to hear at this time. Syria needed to hear that it must stop supporting terrorism, stop trying to undermine the government in Lebanon, stop supporting Hizbullah and Iran," he told the Jerusalem Post. 

At a press conference with Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem, Solana said: "With the President (Bachar al Assad) we have also talked about the peace process in the region. We understand it in a comprehensive manner. We would would like to work as much as possible to see your country Syria recuperating the territories occupied in 1967". 

"I would like to repeat, we look at the peace process in that way," he added.  

Solana’s visit to Damascus, part of a three nation tour which also took in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, had already been criticised by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who said it would “reward the regime for policies that have greatly endangered the Middle East and the cause of peace”.

Syria has was a vocal supporter of Hezbollah before, during and after its war with Israel last summer, but in recent months there have been hints that President Bashir Assad is hoping to renew peace efforts with Israel.

At a press conference with Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem on Wednesday, Javier Solana said: "With the President (Bachar al Assad) we have also talked about the peace process in the region. We understand it in a comprehensive manner. We would would like to work as much as possible to see your country Syria recuperating the territories occupied in 1967".

No chance

The return of the Golan Heights, captured by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War is believed to be a prerequisite for peace talks, but Israel is not willing to discuss the issue officially until there is more concrete evidence of Syria’s dedication to peace.

Israeli politicians were quick to dismiss the idea of giving back the Golan, which is now populated by thousands of Jewish settlers as well as a number of Druze communities.

Reacting to the Solana comments, Likud MK Yisrael Katz said: "There is no chance Israel will retreat from the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights are an inseparable part of the State of Israel and are essential for its security and defense.”

And MK Nissan Slomiansky added: "Solana should know that if he wants to continue to be a neutral mediator between states in conflict with each other, it is inappropriate that he should choose to travel to a known terror-supporting country and make one-sided statements. If he continues to present a one-sided view the European Union will become irrelevant," Slomiansky said.

MK Ophir Paz-Pines, the former Sports minister, is reported to have asked for an emergency meeting of the Knesset following Solana’s statements.

"What Solana said today is not in harmony with what he said just a few months ago, in a forum that included members of the Knesset," Paz-Pines said.

No aid resumption

Meanwhile, EU officials have said they have yet to decide whether to resume aid to the Palestinian Authority after president Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party finally joined the ruling Hamas party in a national unity government on Wednesday.

EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin said on Thursday: "We need to study the program and the actions of the new government very carefully and of course ... to consult with our partners as well in order to take a decision on how and indeed whether it is possible to gradually re-engage," she said.

Before the election of Hamas last February the EU was the largest donor of funds to the Palestinian Authority. Most of this cash has been frozen for the last year as Hamas refuses to give in to the three conditions of renouncing violence, recognising Israel and accepting existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.