And why not? Assad's been getting assurances since before the inauguration that Obama will secure a sweet deal for him. Everything that's happened in recent months has confirmed that the WH will pressure Israel to cede land to Syria.

It's a win-win: either Israel gives in to his absurd conditions for restarting peace talks or Syrian intransigence translates into US-Israeli tensions:

Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected the offer of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a resumption of peace talks between the two countries from "point zero." Assad commented on Netanyahu's proposal during a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell they held in Damascus a week ago. In talks with Mitchell, who had relayed Netanyahu's proposal, Assad requested that a direct line of communication be established between himself and President Barack Obama.

Mitchell had met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem about 10 days ago, and even though most of their meeting dealt with the Palestinian track, they also discussed the Syrian peace talks. Netanyahu told Mitchell he is interested in resuming the negotiations with Syria "without preconditions" and emphasized that "I am unwilling to commit in advance to a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights."

Assad has this fantasy that at one point he was offered the entirety of the Golan in return for calling off Hezbollah, something that never happened and a promise that he can't keep. But while the US gets to reset its relationship with terrorist-funding totalitarian states, Israel is expected to play along with this tool's delusions.

Handing over the Golan to Syria does have this plus side though: after Hezbollah takes it over and starts using it as a terrorist base, at least the IDF will be familiar with the terrain they're re-invading.

References:
* Syria: On Second Thought, We're Gonna Wait A Few More Months Before Talking About A Peace Deal (UPDATED AND BUMPED: Assad Convinced By Malley Not Brzezinski?) [MR]
* Obama Envoy George Mitchell: Oh, And Israel Also Needs To Give Up The Golan [MR]
* Assad spurns Netanyahu offer to resume peace talks [Ha'aretz]

Previously:
* Kerry: "Syria Leaning Towards The West." Syria: "No We're Not."
* White House: Arab States Will Tone Down Their "Israel Has To Commit Suicide" Demands. Arab States: No We Won't.
* Obama Envoy George Mitchell: Oh, And Israel Also Needs To Give Up The Golan [MR]