Assad, in Paris: Israel doesn't want peace with Syria
In Paris, Assad says ready to renew indirect peace negotiations, but adds that there is no partner in Israel.
By Haaretz Service and Agencies Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Bashar Assad Barack Obama Israel newsSyrian President Bashar Assad on Friday questioned Israel's will to restart peace talks and suggested that a summit meeting between the two enemy states would be useless.
Assad welcomed renewed indirect discussions mediated by Turkey, but appeared to dismiss suggestions of a direct meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"What would we talk about, the menu or the return of land?" Assad told reporters after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
"Me, I say we would talk about returning land, and for this subject there is a framework, mechanisms and specialized negotiators to handle this," he said. "It is neither me nor Mr. Netanyahu."
Assad's visit to Paris came two days after that of Netanyahu, who said he was ready to meet the Syrian president anywhere, at any moment, but without pre-established conditions, to relaunch talks over the Israeli-Syrian dimension of the broader Mideast peace process.
"If Mr. Netanyahu is serious, he can send his teams of experts, we will send our teams of experts to Turkey. They can then talk, if they are really interested in peace," Assad said.
Turkey has mediated talks between Israel and Syria, but they broke off after Israel's winter offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
Assad reiterated his complaint that Israel is not fully committed to talks mediated by Turkey. He said the mediator and Syria are ready but what is missing is an Israeli partner ready to move forward and "ready to reach a result."
In addition to Middle East peace, Sarkozy and Assad discussed Iran's contested nuclear program. Damascus is a friend of Tehran. Strengthening bilateral ties between Syria and France also was discussed on Assad's latest visit.
Assad welcomed French help in the eventual Israeli-Syrian discussions, but only as a supporting player to Turkey, by encouraging Israel to return to talks with Syria.
Assad to Obama: Draw up Israel-Syria peace plan
In an interview with French daily Le Figaro published on Friday, meanwhile, Assad said U.S. President Barack Obama should come up with a firm plan of action to renew peace talks between Syria and Israel.
He said the dialogue initiated by Obama's administration had not gone "beyond an exchange of views."
"There has not been an executive plan," he said.
Assad is due to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, hot on the heels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was in Paris earlier this week.
While Netanyahu said he was ready to start peace negotiations with Assad immediately, the Syrian leader accused Israel of not truly wanting to relaunch talks.
"But the weak point is the American sponsor [of peace talks]," Assad told Le Figaro.
"What Obama said about peace was a good thing. We agree with him on the principles, but as I said, what's the action plan? The sponsor has to draw up an action plan," he said.
Assad said that while relations with the United States had improved, issues such as continued U.S. sanctions against Syria were hindering any joint work towards peace in the Middle East.
Asked about Israel's complaint to the United Nations earlier this month about what it said was an Iranian attempt to supply weapons by ship to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Assad accused Israel of lying.
"What proof is there that the arms were for Hezbollah or someone else?" he said, adding that a sovereign state had the right to buy arms. He said Israel's seizure of the ship amounted to "an act of piracy in the middle of the Mediterranean."
Peace talks between Israel and Syria faltered in 2000 over the demand by Damascus for a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed.
Turkey later mediated a limited series of contacts between the two countries, which failed to result in any formal negotiations. Israel accuses Syria of helping to arm Hezbollah and Hamas, its militant enemies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Sarkozy to tell Assad: Israel wants peace talks
French President Sarkozy is expected to deliver a message from Netanyahu to Assad during the latter's visit to Paris on Friday, relaying Israel's desires to renew peace negotiations immediately without preconditions.
According to the pan-Arab satellite television station Al Arabiya, Netanyahu has expressed willingness to withdraw from the Golan to the borders of June 4, 1967. Netanyahu also reportedly stressed that he is interested in a meeting with Assad, without preconditions.
The Prime Minister's Bureau on Thursday denied reports that Netanyahu had relayed a message to Assad. However, political sources in Jerusalem said that Netanyahu is also examining the possibility that France will replace Turkey as a mediator between Israel and Syria.
In recent days the Syrian president has made a number of declarations on peace with Israel. Earlier this week he warned that if negotiations fail this would lead to "resistance" as an alternative.
Speaking at the forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Assad explained that "resistance to occupation is a national obligation," calling it "a moral obligation and legitimate, and something to be proud of."
However, Assad also said that resistance "does not contradict his permanent wish to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the return of occupied territory."
On Wednesday, Assad said he does not propose any preconditions for negotiations with Israel. "Resistance is the reality of our policy in the past and in the future. We have no preconditions for peace, but we cannot ignore our rights," he said.
Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi reiterated in recent weeks his support for the resumption of peace talks with Syria. "We should not be disheartened by Assad," he said during private conversations. The defense establishment has been steadily in favor of resuming talks with Syria. A source present in meetings where Ashkenazi spoke said that the chief of staff explained that "Israel has a strategic interest in disassociating Syria from the extremist axis that Iran is leading."
"Syria is not lost," Ashkenazi declared. "Assad is western educated and is not a religious man. He can still join a moderate grouping."
The issue of talks with Syria is one of the few things on which Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak see eye to eye. Barak recently said in Tel Aviv that "we should not belittle the signals of peace coming from Syria."
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Be a Man & did just like Sadat ! Go to Jerusalem ! Say sorry for the 1967 War. Recognize Israel as a Jewish State. Give an steel cast guarantee you will not use the Golan against Israel. Stop ally yourself with terrorists & adventurers. Sign Peace agreement with a closed eye... You will stand a better chance for Peace with Israel . No other way Mr President !
Syria wants back the Golan because not only is it a great tank barrier but it also controls and feeds the Kinneret. Israel wants Syria to stop supporting Hizbollah and Israel wants a long term peace. Syria's military is much weaker than Israel and Israel is less worried about a two-front-war since the Camp David Agreements with Egypt. Assad is almost right, however the truth is that Israel is not scared of Syria and Assad has more to fear than Israel. The only way that Israeli control of the Golan will be threatened is in a scenario where the Iranians combine with the Syrians to pull Israel into longterm asymetric warfare in Lebanon with 30 to 50 divisions. This won't happen until after Iran's nuclear program is attacked.
Are the Syrians stupid or arrogant or both. Or do they think the rest of the world are stupid? The Israeli's have been saying for years now: "sit down with us at a table and lets negotiate" The mix of cold-war and backward arab thinking is a joke.
Do you know that Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of Turkey, ruled that part of region hundreds of years in peace? Do you know that we still have title deeds of the all lands, that Israelis, Syrians, Palestinians still live on, in our archives? Of course, we do have much more experience than any of the country in the whole world about deciding who is right on his requests. That's why, no matter what you do, there can not be any peace plan that Turkey does not approve.
Why do you have to label all the critisims about Israel as anti-semitic? Is it a self-defense mechanism? What did you expect Turkish Goverment to do when Israel started a military operation during the talks?? They felt that they were back stabbed.
gee! imagine that? the two top dogs of the israeli military. i wonder what all the talkback naysayers know that THEY don't know...lol. "assad the liar"? ptooey! the drift, not mine, is to the hard right---wing. it's amazing how people's views are swayed by the company they keep.
If Syria believes Israel is not serious about peace, then don't lose time with indirect negociations.
assad DOES want "a just and comprehensive peace", and he's made clear, on several occasions, that he's not interested in a facade of peace between governments, like that which exists between israel and egypt, but rather one that exists between the people of each country as well. he wants normalized relations, mutual cooperation, trade, open borders and academic and cultural exchange. that can't happen as long as israel holds the golan. the return of the golan is needed not only to clear the waters between governments, but also to quell the antagonism towards israel that's felt by the syrian population; which would hinder the possibility of the comprehensive peace assad envisions.
Most assuredly NOT at Assads price .
Typical statement from a loser who did not achieve its goal of annihilation of Israel and cannot accept the loss of territory in the war that it started and lost. Assad's refusal of the peace talk with Israel proves that Syria did not change its 1948 objectives and prefers escalation instead of peace. That man must be really lost if he believes that warmongering will bring him Golans back faster than peace treaty with Israel,but maybe he doesn't want Golans back,maybe he just use them to play victim to continue his crusade against Israel?
It must be a problem with mercury in the Syrian tap-water. Israel annexed the Golan Heights last time Syria tried to invade her. You haven't heard a whimper out of the Syrians since then. Yeah, go ahead and give it back, you poor idiots. In ten years we will be discussing the Israeli occupation of Damascus.
From the article: "Assad accused Israel of lying. "What proof is there that the arms (from the Iranian ship) were for Hezbollah or someone else?" Such a liar will take the Golan, behave properly for a year or so, and then return to his old tricks - receiving rockets and other arms from his Iranian friends, for supllying his other friends, Hezbollah......and lie through his teeth about those friendships. What is more realistic, Assad the liar, or Assad keeping his word? And lose the Golan too?
assad DOES want "a just and comprehensive peace", and he's made clear, on several occasions, that he's not interested in a facade of peace between governments, like that which exists between israel and egypt, but rather one that exists between the people of each country as well. he wants normalized relations, mutual cooperation, trade, open borders and academic and cultural exchange. that can't happen as long as israel holds the golan. the return of the golan is needed not only to clear the waters between governments, but also to remove the antagonism towards israel that's felt by the syrian population; which hinder the possibility of the comprehensive peace assad envisions.
The chances of peace with Syria never existed. At the most Israel could hope for a ?Hudna?.The maximum that Israel can aim for is a limited ceasefire or an armistice, taking into consideration that the Arab side will violate it at any time, as the Palestinians have been proving on a daily basis since the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993. That is in the spirit of a ?Hudna? as explained at : http://xrl.us/bjcsd
It s time to make a tough decision from both side only innocent people pay the price neither syria ot israel care about the refugee from both sides either arabs or arab jews shame on both nation go get together and make peace people are tired from war.my message to israel don t forget you made and protect the syrian regime please go ahead and make a peace
Israel says its ready to talk about the golan, assad is sayiny by this he wants no peace that involved israel.
"Syria is not lost," Ashkenazi declared. "Assad is western educated and is not a religious man. He can still join a moderate grouping." assad has already warned israel, that if the last 34 yrs of no attacks by syria isn't something to go by, then force shall be used, if israel thinks hezbollah is well armed, then you can only imagine what a bigger country syria has instal.
Assad is right; there is no peace-partner in Israël...!!
Yes, democracy is a great thing, I always salute Greeks, and sooner or later there will be democracy in Arab world. But, an election result is not perfect just because its a democracy, because the victorious do horse trading AFTER elections and worse, condition the minds of the people with big-money marketing gimmicks (especially fear mongering) immediately before the elections. Many times a non-democratic government better represents the will of the people than a elected government which protects special interests (Tony Blair went to war with 96% Britons in opposition, Bush didn't even win the election in 2000, and peddled 9/11 fear to win it in 2004 - and in both terms obeyed Cheney, and I don't need to tell you about Berlusconi)
Okay, tell me if this makes sense. According to the article, Bibi says he is ready to meet Assad without preconditions to talk peace. Assad refuses to meet with him because he's afraid they'll only talk about the "menu" (whatever that means). And after all that, it's Assad who accuses Israel of not wanting peace with Syria. Bibi wants to meet. Assad doesn't. Assad accuses Israel of not wanting peace. Does that make sense to anybody?
while he and his dictator dad refused to talk directly to ANY of 10 Israeli prime ministers. Arab leaders who did not refuse, like Sadat, got both peace and land, even from Likud.
Not so Assad, or A-jad. Should Israel wait with a peace deal till real democratic elections in Arab countries?
particularly with his country's history toward israel, israel has done much more toward peace than his country every has, but will not with him at any price and per his ultimatums
Israel has never had any intention to give back the Golan and its water. Israel thinks that god gave them these assets, along with all of Palestine. Just what IS Israel willing to give up for peace. Land? Water? Nuclear weapons? Spy network? AIPAC? I can think of nothing it is willing to give up, so the world should quit trying to force it to do so. It will continue to stall, obfuscate, deny, lie and otherwise go on doing what it does best. Buying time.
so refrain from bringing knives to the party and and refrain from electing Nuts-n-yahoos in the future
Its a ruse to obtain via diplomatic pressue what Syria could not obtain militarily, the high, militarily strategic gun emplacements and tank invasion routes of the Golan Heights. In each war with Syria, they have used the Golan to shell and invade Israel. Like the Mount of Olives in "E. Jerusalem", the Golan is primarily desirable to the Arabs because it is the key to conquering the remainder. The Syrians also want the Golan in hopes of cutting off Israel's water. Syria just doesn't aproach things in good faith.
turkey and syria must negotiate peace with Israel, let them decide everything just like "the caravan passes while the dogs bark".
Syria wants peace, but it doesn't trust the motives of Israel. Why? Well, Israel signed Oslo and continued to build settlements. Syria is a dictatorship and a secular regime. If it feels foolish in front of Israel by Israel offering only part of the Golan, then the government looks like idiots. The Syrians are not barbarians. They also would like Israel to find a solution and compromise regarding Jerusalem. Syria is prepared for an armistice of some sort, a non-aggression peace, but a full peace would have to come with Israel finding peace with the Palestinians, too. This is all achievable. Arabs are willing to compromise, but Arabs want the Golan, the Arab East Jerusalem and some kind of religious coordination regarding the holy areas to dignify all, a viable Palestinian state. The Israelis would want the same.There is a stereotype that if Arabs dropped their weapons there would be peace, if Jews do so they would be dead. Not accurate. Arabs want their rights.
Israel won the war too. There are consequences when you loose the war, especially when you started it. Syria either fights again or accept Israel peace conditions. It is cowardly to expect the USA to act as a big brother and try to impose an artificial peace. Obama understands that, as he recently said that this is " Because I Won". Peace must be agreed upon, for a stable condition. It is true the Israel didn't broke the Syria will for confrontation, yet. So the peace is difficult. Syria will have to "take hands off Lebanon" in any peace deal; this will make Syria useless for Iran. The Assad regime will fail shortly after any peace accord with Israel, too. USA will ask Russia out of Syria. etc. Politically any Peace is bad for actual Syria.
Your loyalty to Turkey is commendable. Turkey is using the old trick of creating difficulties in order to be heard. Thus, it makes illogical alliances with Iran and justifies Islamic genocides by saying that when Muslims commit it, it is not genocide. Are we next on the list? Its plans to try to force Israel off the Golan in order to make it need Turkish water is clever. Trying to legitimise its illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus by making it serve as a pipeline way-station is brilliant. Turkey, having declared its hostility to Israel, can no longer be relied upon as either a commercial nor a diplomatic partner and should seek to sell its shoddy wares elsewhere. Turkey is warmongering under the guise of peacemaking in a blatent, albeit pathetic, attempts to become a regional power.
Not a single word that Assad says is believable. He is responsible for rearming Hezbollah and in bed with Iran's Supreme Lia, the Mad Mullah's and the North Koreans. Assad will say whatever he must to regain the Golan which, he fails to understand, now belongs to Israel as a result of his daddy's attacks on Israel. israel would do well to avoid his overtures as they are meaningless.
From the article: "Assad accused Israel of lying. "What proof is there that the arms (from the Iranian ship) were for Hezbollah or someone else?" Such a liar will take the Golan, behave properly for a year or so, and then return to his old tricks - receiving rockets and other arms from his Iranian friends, via the Turkish friends, for supllying his other friends, Hezbollah......and lie through his teeth about all those friendships. What is more realistic, the above, or an Assad keeping his word?
One minute he says ok to direct talks, next moment no only turkey can mediate. Turkey is not an honest broker anymore now she is bound hand and foot with Ahmedinijad. So either Syria wants direct negotiations or not. As foir resistance to get the golan back.. bad move as IDF tanks may become a regular sight in damascus. So suck it up Assad youy are only half the man your father was and that aint much. make peace or make war, but do something
I have little time for Assad, but he's right about this one, isn't he, that Israel doesn't want peace?
You write: "I suspect Netanyahu`s rhetoric of peace is for the American Jews." Uh, no. American Jews are much smarter than that and have known for awhile Netanyahu is a liar and has no interest in a just peace. (Sadly, most agree with him.) No, what the rhetoric is for is the American people via (Zionist) American newspapers, specifically headline writers who can now write "peace" and "Netanyahu" and "No preconditions" in the same sentence (they can do anything when it comes to Israel) and most Americans are unthinking and are too busy to know they've been duped so the next time the ADL calls on yet another poll demonstrating how much Americans support Israel they will parrot all the proper answers.
Hamas is headquartered in Damascas for crying out loud! How about Syria makes Hamas return the soldier Shalit to Israel, and Israel will know Syria is truly interested in peace.
With another excuse. There is also an ancient principle: A mediator has to be accepted by both sides. Turkey has become an ally of Iran.
Oh, and east Jerusalem, except Kotel. You can give the West Bank to the Palestinians but maybe Hamas will take over. Syria seems to be more in charge of its people than the Palestinians.
He talks direct to Israel. Turkey is out. Assad goes by the way of Sadat or Israel keeps the heights. Assad is too entrenched with Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah. Moreover, he tried to get the bomb-failed. And, if Assad got the land, what becomes of water rights, will he recognize Israel as a Jewish state, will he end the state of war, grant Syrian citizenship to the so called refugees from 1948? My guess is that Assad will have none of what it takes to reclaim the plateau. Easier to heap scorn upon Israel and arm Hezbollah than dissappoint Iran.
i.e. there is no shortcut to peace, Bibi
Israel didn't pay the _real_ price of the land it purchased from locals to create the state. The price it paid was only for farming on the land. For building a state, the price is different - and calling everyone a terrorist and "not serious about peace" as Netanyahu is so prone will only increase the price. Netanyahu has already upped the price for meetings with Obama, Abbas and Syria. Time he realized that his satisfying only his coalition partners will not cut it outside the knesset.
No more land for peace garbage. We did that and only got hatred and less security. No to indirect talks, no to preconditions. You want to talk about peace, then we have something to say. You want to make demands then we have nothing to say. Of course your survival depends on staying at war with us. We know this fact.
Other than land, what does Israel have to offer? Syria can offer help with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas--but it is not clear what Israel offers Syria other than a return of the Golan.
I love this line in particular: "If Mr. Netanyahu is serious, he can send his teams of experts, we will send our teams of experts to Turkey. They can then talk, if they are really interested in peace," Assad said. Simply priceless.
typical, israel offers DIRECT talk, and assad backs away... ok, so the moron needs a mediator, fine. Canada would do, so would france. so would germany. but turkey? not a chance...I think the whole world has seen how biased and anti semitic turkey has become..it's not an option.
Assad should call Netanyahu's bluff and see what Israel is willing to put on the table for negotiation. That will be the true test of Netanyahu's integrity. I suspect Netanyahu's rhetoric of peace is for the American Jews. His true colors are more identified with the demands of zealot settlers.
Sounds more like Syria does not want peace with Israel. Netanyahu says lets meet anytime and anywhere, Assad says no my team is ready to "negotiate" Israels return of land with Turkey "mediating" the whole thing. Syria has never ben interested in any peace-if it were (as King Hussein of Jordan was) Assad would have met an Israeli PM a long time ago.
The talk wil be just that; talks.
as usual with Arab States; its always another States fault for failure; never their own fault. what will Arab states do if the 'problem' of Israel is 'solved'? they will gang up on each other, of course. by extention, Arab States should hope that Israel 'problem' does not go away! ever.
Obama has a lot of things going on right now. Assad ought not wait for him to get around to Syria's problems. Nor is the US necesssary for Syria and Israel to make peace. Assad ought to move ahead now, if he really wants peace with Israel.
The US administration should come clean on any diplomatic contacts with Teheran.
One should remember that Assad the dictator belongs to a minority in Syria forcing the majority to obey. Imagine a "Coup d`Etat" and all of a sudden Assad could be replaced by another dictator with very different world views.
What is Syria offering? Do they want to offer more of the Hermon range to Israel as tribute to make peace? Are they willing to surrender unconditionally as they lost all their wars against Israel? Do they want to agree that Golan is Israel to make peace finally?
All Assad has to say is, "Let's all meet in Ankara tommorow!" and Israel would do it without any Pre-Conditions. But Assad doesn't want to risk raising the ire of the Bathists and the Muslim Brotherhood. Why doesn't he just meet with Peres next week without asking permission? Why not? He's a dictator. He can do anything he wants!
If Israel cedes the Golan Heights to the Syrians, Israel will then need alternative sources of fresh water. Desalination can only provide a solution to a portion of Israel's fresh water requirements. Israel also needs oil etc. This is where the Turkish connection comes into play. Turkey has plans to provide India with petroleum, via Cyprus and Israel. Turkey also has plans for a water pipeline to Israel via the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Either way Turkey will be added to the equation as it has far too much leverage on both Israel and Syria. After all, Turkey controls the amount of water Syria gets from the Euphrates and Tigris river systems.