JERUSALEM. Dec 31: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said today Israel would withdraw its forces from part of the occupied Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria, reports Reuters.

Rabin referred to United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for Israel s withdrawal from occupied lands in exchange for peace In a speech to youth members of his Labour Party. His com ments were broadcast by Israel radio.

"For peace with Syria 1 am ready to accept resolutions 242 and 338. which means withdrawal of Israeli forces. 1 stress, Israeli forces. “Rabin said.

"But I will not discuss the extent of withdrawal until I get an answer fropi Syria what docs peace mean for it. I want a peace that stands on its own feet and Is not dependent on

what happens with Lebanon. Jordan or the Palestinians'.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War. It captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip , from Jordan and Egypt respectively

Israel has been negotiating peace with the Arab states and Palestinians for over one year Rabin, who defeated rightist Yitzhak Shamir's government

in a June election, has offered to discuss a land for peace deal.

AFP adds: The Israeli army imposed a curfew on all of the occupied Gaza Strip on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the first armed action by Fatah against Israel on January 1. 1965.

The army spokesman refused to give the reason for the curfew or how long It will last, but Palestinian sources said it was to try and prevent trouble over the period of the 28th anniversary.

Fatah, the mainstream group of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, both led by Yasser Arafat, claimed responsibility Wednesday for the murder of an alleged collaborator at Rafah, in the south of the strip, the sources said

Masked men burst into the home of Attalah Al Hissi, 26, and riddled him with bullets.