Barak: Peace with Syria is central to regional agreement

Just thought i would remind you that syria was the one who declared war on Israel and as a result lost the Golan in 67. Besides, the syrian hostility to Israel dates back to as early as the establishment of the state which syria viewed/s as illegitimate as part of the arab view.

When Israel was formed in 1948, the country agreed to the UN Charter. Part of that Charter was respect for other countries' borders (title 7.) The concept of "spoils of war" is passe and no longer applies, especially with Israeli signatures on accepting statehood and signing UN charters. Eventually the Land known as Golan and West Bank and Gaza will return to their respective people. Also She-Ba Farms will go to Lebanon. Why don't you get and understand international law?

and helping HIZBALLAH, and HAMAS. Answer. because Israel is OCCUPUYING Syrian Lands, no doubt that if There is a Peace Treaty between them, the SYRIANS surely would not have to have the need to make friends with the Enemies of Israel, as long as there is no FRIENDLY RELATION between the parties, then Israel have to put up with the existing situation. Really the ball is in Israeli Court.

While the land on the Golan is important but the water and military security is more important. Israel could give up the land but not the water. Politically it would be almost imposible to give up land under current conditions, the gov. would fall.

I am a Christian Arab. The crusaders occupied Palestine for hundreds of years. So did the Romans ,the Ottomans and other nationalities. Where are they now?? Your arrogance is similar to any of these people arrogance. We'll wait even as much as our ancestors did , but Palestine will be arab aghain.

Judging from the comments of the supporters of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians and other Muslim and Arab states it seems that the whole world's political problems must be solved first before anybody dare raises his voice against Israeli policies. Issues not related to the Arab-Israeli conflict are frequently raised to deflect criticism of Israeli policies. Try to make peace with your neighbors whenever the opportunity presents itself, otherwise you may some day live to regret it, because history is very unforgiving.

and it's destined to become a close ally with the u.s. in the not TOO distant future. it WILL distance itself from iran once it's assured of that alliance, and sooner or later israel's going to get a few more people like barak, who think with their minds instead of zionist zealotry, into positions of government that allow them to act on their sanity. barak is a progressive thinker with an amazing amount of common sense and insight. unfortunately, he lacks the power, and very likely the political will, to act alone on any of his insights into peace with israel's neighbors. anyone who questions syria's potential as a friend to israel hasn't followed developments and what's been said by assad of the last couple years. he's not talking nominal relations between governments, like egypt has with israel. israel actually has alot to gain by making peace with syria; especially when it comes to security.

Just return the Golan and you will have peace with all you neighbours, including Hezbullah (with Syria controlling the weapon flow). Syrian preconditions for peace is the return of the Golan. They are sincere about this, but you guys do not even want to talk to them! With the superior military might, the Israeli bully mentality is at its worst. That cannot last for ever. Do not wait for Islamists to take over Syria, unless you really do not care for peace if it involves giving back stolen land.

I agree with Barak but in order to start this we need to see some sign first.

syria and the rest WILL get all their land back, just because you have nukes, does NOT mean you can win the war, you will find out the hard way, as i've said in the past, all the arabs will eventually unit along with russia and china, just imagine, over 1.5 billion muslims, plus the 1.3 billion chinese plus the 150 million russians and the rest, good luck with that.

Who will mediate the negotiations between the Kurds and the Syrian government? I nominate Mr. Chavez.

The more you resist ending the occupation and the more you refuse to give back water and land taken in war, the more Americans will oppose you. I will resist giving you one more dime, and you should refuse to take one more dime (or vote in the UN and/or the US Congress)for your misdeeds. I cannot believe the hubris I hear coming from people who have benefited from our largess over the last fifty or so years.

I still remember the"peace keepers"from Syria in Lebanon.If peace with Syria would be the same as the peace they brought to Lebanon,i would rather live without peace. Make peace with your own majority(minority regime)first,and then talk of peace with your enemy.Syria had no peace since the days of the Sultans,only war and atrocities.

"In Syria we have national support..." What a joke,did they ever asked their population for support?.Do they have their support for the Allawi regime?.The Ayatoolas are the one to decide Syria's foreign policy and not the people of Syria.Assad like his father never cared about the need of his people. If Israel want peace with Syria,they should talk to Iran(what are the chances for that?)

Israel handed back the Sinai without even demanding the Egyptian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state! easily and without conditions! Just for the mere reason of wanting peace. Those using events of extremism, which exists in every nation, as a way of giving negative image and assuming representativeness for the whole nation are themselves extremists and biased. Recognize me and ensure my security = I make peace with you....Easy and logical!

It is crazy that the arabs are falling for the same trick. Egypt eliminated Egypt and was able to do what it wants. Now it is working on Syria. why do you ask? Well it is very simple, they would be willing to give back the Golan if that will buy them more time to completly take over the West Bank. Who would fight for the Palestinians? No One. Palestine has to exist first before ther can be any talks wit Syria, otherwise it is all over.

he had declared that he is citizen of the world. therefore, citizens of the world want answers from him.

Whats your share in the business with Syria -a penthouse in Damascus ?

why are muslims murdering each other all over the world: yemen, pakistan, algeria, afghanistan, iraq, iran, lebanon, somalia, sudan, etc....

... but you ignore the concommitant radicalization and 'charadization' that has occurred in Israel within the same time frame... and which has nothing to do with Obama, who has become a convenient international scapegoat for anyone with global complaints...

Israel needs to flexible with these men of peace, like Assad and Erdogan. After all, they are just humanitarians that want the best for the people of the middle east. There should be parallel peace tracks; Turkey to moderate the peace process between Israel and Syria; while Israel will moderate the peace track between Turkey and Kurdistan. Only minor preconditions; Kurdistan to become a state with a seat at the UN. Will be a wonderful opportunity for Turkey to show it's moderation. To keep up the momentum no less men of peace than Desmond Tutu and Jimmie Carta can do a Truth Commission for the Armenians.

I question if in return for the Golan Syria would be willing to recognize Israel and set up a token embassy. Let?s put the issue of links to Iran and active support for Hezbollah and Hamas aside for a moment (which are incompatible with peace) The Assad regime has survived in power not in spite of its conflict with Israel but because of it the 1963 Emergency law allows the President of Syria near full dictatorial powers and a suspension of the constitution. The primary reason Syria argues it needs this law in effect for 40+ year is because of its war with Israel. If peace is made then civil society activists in Syria will demand the laws repeal, Assad cannot such a threat on his power. Stability is more important than peace, it has always been. That being said peace TALKS are very good for Syria such talks give Assad legitimacy in the west which translates to economic revenue which leads to more stability

One could almost forget amidst Cipora's hyperbole that Israel has seized, occupied and is building on Syrian land, as well as swiping all the available water resource. And has no plans whatsoever to return one dunam, as Bibi makes clear. Cipora and gang clearly have a causal link missing in their reasoning. If you steal people's land and water - both incidentally 100% illegal under international law - they tend not to like you too much and want revenge. It is hardly surprising that they support any or every resistance group fighting against you, such is life for the bullyboy and illegal occupier. Don't worry Cipora, Netanyahu won't give an inch. Free land and water and an 'existential threat', all in the one delivery? He surely won't sleep one wink tonight with excitement at another ill-gotten gain for the Chosen Ones.

This crap is another tactic of the Islamist-Jihadists in the region to distract Israel from focusing its eyes on the Ayatollahs' nukes which the fanatics in Iran are feverishly working. Peace can only be achieved when Syria abandons its usurpation of Israel's liberated historic homeland of Golan. So long as they insist on usurping Golan, Israel can tell them to go to Hell. Barak should not be fooled by Syria.

your rants. They have stopped accepting mine, even if gently put forth. Syrian problem is simple: give back the land Israel took in war with conditions. Everyone knows that Israel is the party who does not want peace. Peace requires the end of occupation and the return of lands acquired in war. Pretty simple to assume Israel is not going to do either. Whom did you say was oppressed? Do you recall the King David Hotel? The US Liberty? Etc.

Ehud Barak should not be making speaches about peace. The guy is a war criminal. Why is he still free ? We should have decent and patriotic Israelis handling our peace planning. And we have quite a few good people.

talk is cheap but land won in war is invaluable and not up for discussions.

Could you please make those bras far less snappier? They always hurt when my wife snaps me in the eye with one of those things. Thanks.

1967 - Syria attacked Israel, lost Golan 1973 - Syria attacked Israel and almost lost Damascus 2006 - HIZBS attacked Israel and brought destruction to HIZBALON 2009 - Hamas sent rocktes to Israel and brought destruction to Gaza They provoke Israel, are presented as oppressed and victims in the media and require preconditions to discuss peace. Something is wrong in this story.

is this statement true?? the time will show if syria will be a peace seeker or a land grabber! in my point of view golan should stay in israel cuz i dont believe syrians want and would not violate peace and golan is a very strategical place its different than sinai which little strategical value thats why egypt was sincere about peace and they only wanted their land back Golan is no more a syrian land its a very strategical point that syria can use to launch attack or better syria can let terror orgs take over like south of lebanon and not held guilty! Golan is a perfect area for a terror group its high many places to hide and place arms. many good point to shoot rockets! this cannot be permitted! but if syria sincerely wants peace and assures this wont happen golan can stay with syria of course syria should pay for the damage caused to isr in 67 and 73 wars and they must pay for every infrastructure made by isr to improve golan!

please add also that iran has just bought from north korea mini subs for syria and hezbollah.

Strange when governments such as hamas, hezbollah, syria and others who were and are the initiaters of hostilism and aggression towards Israel should, instead of at least quiting their actions and admiting their mistakes, start naming conditions for peace when they are in fact not the oppressed!

Great mix, really. How can Israel sit down with Syria and talk peace while Syria arms Hezballah with an immense arsenal or rockets intended at Israelis, just as the 2006 war proved? Now they have tens of thousands of Iranian rockets. How can Israel sit down with Syria and talk peace while Syria hosts the heads of a terrorist sect bent on Israel's destruction, and on killing "every Jew"? Now hamas too has more Iranian rockets. Under Obama, Iranian and Syrian terrorism, as well as general Arab and Muslim Chutzpah, demonization and delegitimization of Israel have grown exponentially. Haaretz, please don't censor this post.

It is easy to make yourself look good by offering to talk peace when your intended correspondent refuses to even meet you.