Barak: Without Syria peace, we could be headed for all-out war

Sorry Carol in Geneva did you say peace or piece as they mean two different things ?

Hey Jonnyboy how,s the Hamas war crimes investigations going as word has it that yourself BBS ,Labhras,Nathallie were scared off by the Hamas Islamofascists ,care to comment ?

Pay attention Yosemite as the word rocket was mentioned ,the one aimed at the dictator,s bedroom .

Barak states clearly: ""A political arrangement is not the dream come true of the other side," Barak added. "This will be a choice of no choice. If the other side believes that it is possible to bring down Israel, to wage a battle of attrition against it, or lure it into a honey trap, then it will prefer to do so." Syria and her neighbors want and prefer the destruction of Israel. If signing a peace treaty gets them closer to that goal they will do it. But lets not kid ourselves, it's only to gain strategic land that puts Syria on better footing to attack Israel at a later date.

Why, specially, if he knows that after a supposed utopia of an establishment of a "peace park" under Syrian sovereingty on the Golan down to the shores of lake Kinneret, Syria will continue its same pattern of proxy-war against Israel, will continue to be allied with Iran's regime (if it still exist by that time) and there won't be any less consensus among Arabs that Israel has no right to exist. What is that kind of peace worth?

Our governments have proven incapable of getting along. People don't always do much better, but there is a reason for that. Support for war is a product of propaganda. It's not hard to understand, or hard to beat, and without support, there can be no war. Prejudice is a key obstacle and indicator of a threat. It can not be confronted, but it can be easily undermined. Do your best to silence your own extremists, and represent Israel with a friendly face. Talk straight to the people. We are the ones with all the power. Learn from Bernays, and shape opinion first, but make war impossible to wage instead of supporting it. Open communications are the way forward.

"Hamas and Hizb terrorists are living because Syria support them." (Jose Pedro) That is no great revelation. But what are you trying to tell us? That since Syria is an enemy, we shouldn't try to make peace with them, but only with proven friends?

"And when 'peace' is established with Syria ... will Barak fight and die when Syria rearms the Golan?" (Mark) What Barak will do if/when Syria rearms the Golan, no one knows. What I can tell you is that what Israel will do depends all on what has been agreed upon during the negotiations. Think - if you know how this is done: A peace treaty is not a declaration of friendship. It is contract between two states, and as is the case for every contract, the party that breaks it is liable to suffer the consequences.

The IDF, despite its outstanding work in Haiti, seems to be fated to pursue its normal task, not defense but aggression. Unless Barak, who seems to thrive on war, has a miraculous change of perspective ... There are more options than shooting to stalemated negociations. This is just too primitive a reaction for a country so advanced in scientific achivements. Peace, too, is an art! Cultivating it would be to Israel's advantage.

As long as Israel is strong the Syrian Dictator will not dare to attack. If Israel ever shows any weakness there will be war. It really doesn't depend on whether there is a peace treaty. At the end of the day it is just a piece of paper, like Neville Chamberlain's "peace in our time". "Our time" turned out to be less than a year.

Barak: "and whoever would like to can check whether the government instructions to the IDF senior command stands up to norms and to international law," A terrific offer, Ehud; I'd very much like a copy of those instructions. Send them "c/o Amos Harel", and he can print them on these pages. Thanks in advance, Johnboy.

Barak is wrong. Syria will not dare wage war on Israel. It will be like manhandling a Rhino. Barak's scenario is alarmist and does not serve any purpose. Peace with Syria is irrelevant. They will still be harboring Islamist-Jihadist terrorists and will be supporting their sponsor-the Ayatollahs. The Ayatollahs are feverishly working on their nukes so that they can vaporize Israel, dominate the region and threaten the world with Mushroom Clouds.

Peace with the Islamist-Jihadist states in the region is meaningless. Barak should not take their peace as biblical truth. If Barak is worried about war, he should not be Defense Minister. Aging seems to have worn out old warriors. They should be enjoying their retirement and leave the challenges to younger warriors.

Because it is a "no lose" situation for the Arabs.

I'd say that Israel is better off holding on to the Golan Heights. How's that?

Barak ! He needs to go ! If Syria wanted peace they wouldn't be exporting terrorism and sponsoring Hezbollah. Barak is a fool and a clear and present danger to Israel .

Here in Canada we Live side-by-each its such a shame that we cant just except people as is. We all have a chance to excel in life or death and the muslim fanatics have I guess chosen death to all

with us or we will wipe you out in a regional war. Israel's options, under pressure, are clear! Step back? mmmm not likely. Painted into a corner, oh yes.

The Geneva Convention allows an occupation for security reasons, but it is also very precise in stating that the land may not be colonized. It further requires the occupier, Israel, to provide for the welfare of the non-combatant people. Israel has failed miserably on the latter two counts. Israel has exploited the people, denied them basic human rights and taken their homes and lands. Israel has punished whole families, neighborhoods and villages for the crimes of a few. Then Israel has built settlements on the confiscated land and cultivated a settlement movement that is violently hostile to the Syrians. Israel needs to take responsibility for its actions and make the Syrians as well as the Palestinians whole before peace can be tangible.

The only nation in the region that has it's government hinting of wars with just about everyone is Israel. Syria isn't interested in a war. Lebanon isn't. Hisbollah only speaks of fighting back if Lebanon is attacked. Even Hamas is trying to keep things calm. Why is Israel's government trying to whip up a war scare?

Fact: with Syria in control of the Golan for 19 years, 1948-1967, the border was a daily source of Syrian attacks into Israeli valley below, one of the world's perennial hot spots. Fact: With IDF there and Golan annexed to Israel for the last 43 years, Golan has been virtually quiet (Syria is in no hurry to repeat its 1973 debacle, or the "1982 Bekaa Valley Turkey Shoot" the #1 legendary jet fighter air battle of the 20th century, which Syria lost 82-0 in a single day) Fact: The Assad regime is the most wild and radical in Syria's unstable history (ask Lebanon), killing Lebanon PM Hariri, supplying Jihadis and suicide bombers to Iraq's cockpit to kill Americans and...160,000 Iraqi civilians to date. Client state of Iran, and that won't change. Fact: Peace and "normalization" with Syria is utterly worthless - ask Lebanon This is exactly the classic blunder that Barak keeps making again and again. Time to up his lithium dose.

Barak is an alarmist by nature and thus a poor negotiator.

... otherwise your words are empty...

Barak has agin shown his stupidity and his lack of any credibility. We have no problem at all today with Syria as long as Israel looks at Damascus from top of the Golan and can lob a small missile into Assad's bedroom window. As long as Israel can do that , we will have no problem with Syria. He will never change his mentality and will never change his preferences and allegiances. Israel has no need for open borders with Syria so some Ahmad can marry his girlfriend in Damascus. He can do that today also. For Jewish girls to marry Ahmad from Damascus is no real bargain either. The day Israel might lose its' strategic advantage on the Golan is the day that war might break out.

Barak may be a brave soldier but he really does not understand global politics and the way Jews are given the double standard. He has proven this with his support for Oslo, this running to give Arafat everything he wanted at Camp David only to find Arafat spitting in his face, his withdrawal from Lebanon and his support for leave Gaza. Go quietly Barak, you have caused enough damage allready.

Yes, I know I'll get endless people hysterically screaming at me that Jews have been in the Middle East for thousands of years. Sure they have, but most Jews in Israel today are descended from people who only went there in the last hundred years or so. That's not very long PLUS loads of them keep second passports PLUS they maintain a European lifestyle PLUS they have no connections with the surrounding peoples PLUS they have no marriage connections with the indigenous non-Jewish population. Those aren't deep roots Like the Crusader states, Israel has chosen a strategy that leaves it 100 per cent dependent for its survival on military superiority, and like the Crusader states, if it ever loses that military supeiority it's gone forever. The Arabs know that. They've seen empires and foreigners come and go. They know Israel has to be luckey ever time. They only have to be lucky once.

Hey Valdek your not that well informed. Most of the land occupied by Jews prior to the war of 1948 was purchased from Arabs, and some of it owned by Jewish people for quite a long time. Expansion of Jewish controlled land came in the War of 1948, as part of Arab rejection of UN partition plan, and attack on Jews.The rest came in 1967 war as part Israeli response to Soviet supported Arab confrontation with Israel. If Arabs accepted Jewish presence back in 1948 today the situation would be largely reversed. Jews would have a toehold and Arabs would have something like 75 percent of Palestine Mandate. Acceptance is something mutual, and I agree part of solution is "acceptance" of Arabs by Israeli side, and ultimate answer is a political and human solution.

Assad would already be circumsized since he is a muslim. Shows how ignorant you are of your adversary.

Who would listen to this man? "All options are on the table?" We know that Jerusalem is on the table-he put it there without the arabs asking for it. And when "peace" is established with Syria...will Barak fight and die when the Syrian's rearm the Golan? Barak is a corrupt politician and a very mediocre one at that. He should've retired to a kibbutz somewhere in the Negev and left Israeli affairs alone.

When Syria is gone, Hizb and Hamas will too. Terrorism uprooted at last. Bible code cites december this year, the next war.

Peace with Syria hinges on Israel's willingness to give up the Golan watershed. About half of Israel's drinking water comes from the Kinneret and that water originates in the Golan. As the coastal aquifer becomes progressively more salinated, the Golan's water becomes that much more inportant. I doubt Israel will ever give up the Golan, no matter if President Assad decides to get circumsized and become a Haredim.

Syria invaded Israel in order to topple the govt and occupy their land. Syria lost, and has since complained relentlessly about how Israel is the aggressor. Intl law states that an occupying force can continue to maintain control over land that is vital to maintaining peace and security. Syria has proven it cannot own the golan heights without being tempted to invade Israel. sorry, but crying after you lose is not acceptable.

-marted him. Now he wants to try with Syria...

Will decide who wins; Israel is Fortified but Hiz/Hamass/Iran will try to infiltrate. in the end as Israel is just totally frustrated or near defeat Iran will be obliberated as well as Syria and unfortunately Lebanon unless the Gov takes action against the latter two. Should be a Hot One in the Ole ME this year. Thanks alot Human Rights/United Nations; You failed in Africa & you Failed here... Yu really have to go

Israel has been heading for all out war for a long time. We are only awaiting the weapons needed by Israels victims to take the fight to Israel.

He announced about Ariel collage being upgraded to university status When it comes to foreign policy he seems to be the man discussing it all not foreign minister Liberman. He has been talking financie issues. Now he makes speeches like this that should be coming from the PM. What exactly is Baraks role in this government, is he defense minister or is he everything short of religious affairs minister all rolled into one? As for his comments on Syria, Israel is safer with the Golan than without it. Assad is a thug who says on Sunday he wants peace and on Monday admits proudly he supports terror. Assad is a snake oil salesman who can't be trusted He wants to move 500,000 arabs into the Golan creating a potential Gaza in the north. He wants a share of Kinerret waters This treaty we don't need & Israeli taxpayers will be financing for the next decade the huge cost involved & Syria is no real threat so if it aint broke dont fix it and keep the Golan.

Israel lost a great opportunity to clean up the mess in 2006, Hamas and Hizb terrorists are living because Syria support them.

Syria is Syria and does what it wants.

Lasting peace cannot be enforced with military might nor can it be purchased. Peace can only come through the acceptance of Arab peoples as equal, whether they are Palestinians within Israel, the West Bank and Gaza or Arabs in the countries surrounding Israel. The Arabs are aggrieved because Israel took their land forcefully and without compensation. The Arabs have been connected to their land for centuries. Return of that land or reasonable compensation is essential. For the Arabs to accept the loss of land under Israeli military threat simply continues to enflame distrust and violence.

God forbid ! Allah protect Syria !