Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service: Assad: By war or peace, we will liberate the Golan
Talkback
Title: Any Syr-Isr deal must be based on "Hatay" model, not Sinai model Name: Joel Stein City: State: USA
In any Israeli-Syrian deal, the model applied should be the Hatay model, not the Sinai model! Turkey annexed Syria`s Hatay (Alexandretta) province in 1939, and this hasn`t affected Syria`s recent rapprochement with Turkey. Furthermore, Hatay is far from vital for Turkey`s security, while Syrian contol of the Golan and Mt Hermon outsposts - despite all paper treaties - could pose vital threats to Israel. In the Egypt-Israel deal, unlike the Golan, the Sinai buffer provides sufficient strategic depth for Israel`s defense.