Israel's housing minister snipped a ribbon Tuesday to expand an Israeli settlement in the Golan Heights.

The move came even though Israel and Syria are expected to resume negotiations in the next few weeks in Washington aimed at bringing about an Israeli withdrawal in exchange for a full peace.Housing Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a former army general, said once the talks resume, "the question will come whether we will give up anything and how much we will give up."

"As long as we don't get answers that guarantee our safety, I don't see any place for thinking about giving up the Golan Heights," he said.

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