Israeli tanks taking part in a training exercise near Gadot in the Golan Heights.

Israel has said peace negotiations with Syria will only be resumed if there is a change in the discussion rules.

Israels ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has said Israel will no longer agree in advance to Syria’s long-time demand for a return of the Golan Heights, which was taken from Syria during the Six Day War in 1967 and annexed in 1981.

Lieberman has told Israel Radio he would be happy to resume talks with Syria, but only without preconditions.

Indirect peace talks resumed last year under the previous Israeli government, which has since been replaced by hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Syria has told the Israelis any peace talks must be based on the concept of land for peace, and must include a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

Lieberman told Israeli Radio the demand would go unheeded and Israel would demand "peace for peace."