Israel says Syria talks not imminent, but lauds Turkey offer to mediate

I respect Turkey for wanting to offer to mediate between Israel and so Syria but is it possible as long as Hizbulah and so Iran belong to the Syria friend ship club to hold negociations and or is Israel acepting that Syria may never leave the friends it has to be friends with Israel and so America I hardly expect that and so I hope there fore Israel decides there is no room for negociations and so America should stop pushing Israel to negociate and so return the Golen Heights to Syria does Israel ask America to return Alaska to Russia and or Florida to Spain and so America stop being a bully Israel I do not like bullys we do not like being bullyed not by America Obama Hiliary Palin and so some D Y M RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.

Even if we do reveal of what we believe is the "documented truth" the other side won't accept it as so. And just the Turkish archives alone won't suffice, as proving the lack of presence of something in law is impossible as you know. The only way out? The independent historian commission which should have the recognition of both Turkey and Armenia, no matter what result comes out. In other words see this as some sort of trial. We're being convicted of something... at the same time we have the right to a fair trial by a court of an independent legal system (which is the commission in this case). All we want is for this process to start. Sadly the Armenians aren't too fond of that idea and instead just try to skip the "trial" phase. This is the official policy of the Turkish republic, don't mind what some of the idiotic Turkish fanatics or what some of the media might say.

So far most people in the western world, Russia, and even the Arabs (Lebanon has passed an Armenian Genocide bill years ago) believe the Armenian narrative and already find Turkey to be guilty of Genocide. In that circumstance to wait for reciprocity only helpd Armenians and it has been hurting and continues to hurt Turkey. In that case wouldn't it be wise to prove that the other side is wrong by exposing the documented truth?

Peace is precious. Since Israel is surrounded by hostile countries, with strong ideological and popular support for Israel's destruction, the only way to secure peace is ensuring Israel has a dominant status in the region. Sure, this raises antipathy towards Israel, but don't pretend handing Golan over to Syria will make Syrians love us. They lost Golan because they were trying to destroy Israel and found they bit off more than they could chew; it was no grave injustice they lost and it isn't the underlying reason for their hostility. As a conventional military power true Syria can't beat Israel, true. But Syrian tendrils - their links to a wide range of regional "non-state combatants" and political factions - make them dangerous. Israel currently lacks the ability to destroy these networks. But if Syria promises to disenage from them, in return for Golan, how can that promise be enforced? Syria must fear the consequences of backstabbing Israel for a deal to work. It doesn't yet.

Get this point thru your skull: the Golan Heights BELONGS TO SYRIA. So it really does not matter how much better it would be for Israel **IF** the Golan belonged to her. And it really does not matter how much better it is for the IDF to have its Merkava tanks there. It. Ain't. Yours. And. Therefore. You. Can't. Keep. It. You can use it as a bargaining chip in the negotiations. Fine. You can try and drive a hard bargain for withdrawing from it. Go ahead. But stop pretending that it is yours merely because you want it, or because you insist that you must have it. Wishes ain't horses...

Thanks for the response. i suppose it's because Turkey doesn't want to be the only side revealing just about "everything" while the other side doesn't even bother to take a step. A right step in the way of forming the joint historian commission mentioned should pave the way for all archives to be released. If once the commission is formed and either turkey or armenia still refuses to release 100% of their archives, then that would be the point where it would get suspicious. but who can say no to an independent historian commission? sadly the armenians are... I hope they change their mind and we solve this problem once and for all. I, as a Turkish citizen, want to know the truth as well but that truth will not be uncovered by corrupt US congressmen who knows nothing about the issue. That's the job of historians. Sorry if I repeated myself here but I just wanted to emphasise on that.

Aaron C tells us that there is nothing worse than peace. "There is no good war or bad peace." - Benjamin Franklin I agree with Franklin. Peace might be the worst thing in the world in the eyes of Arron C and Benjamin Netanyahu, but I don't think it is a bad idea. The israeli right understands that it will have to give up it's fondest dream, Greater Israel, if there is to be peace. And that is why the Israeli right is dedicated to ensuring there will be no peace. They refuse to consider what the Palestinians will do to avoid extermination. The Israeli right even refuses to consider how the Palestinians will disappear without being exterminated. The Israeli right imagines somehow that all Arabs in Greater Israel and all Israeli Arabs will just somehow disappear. The Israeli right are totally delusional about what will be required to achieve the ethnically and religiously pure nation they desire and pursue. How will Netanyahu et al achieve their ethnically pure Greater Israel?

"No point negotiating with Syria til they are weaker than now" - Aaron C And how much weaker have they to become? When last did Syria strike Israel? Isn't 1973 rather a long time ago? And when did Israel last attack Syria? Just a few years ago? How long have you, Aaron C, been totally out of touch with reality? Syria is not what I would like to see in any nation. But it ceased to be any real threat in late 1973 when it halted instead of pouring down off the Golan Heights. At that moment it proved in REALITY that it had given up on any delusion of expunging Israel. Thank god that happened because a friend of mine, a reservist in artillery, survived because of that failure to press the Syrian advantage. Consider reality Aaron C in the midst of your psychotic rant. p.s., my friend survived to see the year out in Egypt. A long and Glad/Sad story which he told me a few years later when back in the USA to cash in on the ability to take all those appliance goodies home duty free.

The fact is that Netanyahu thinks there is nothing worse than peace. He was an opponent of peace with Egypt, an opponent of peace with Jordan, and an opponent of peace with anyone. Netanyahu and everyone who follows him, is an opponent of peace with anyone, anywhere, under any circumstance. Netanyahu, Lieberman, and Barak have a simple goal for Israel which serves their political advantage. War, nothing but War, and at any cost because without war they personally have no future. They are men willing to murder any number of Israelis to achieve their own political goals. Without WAR they have nothing to achieve their goals. This is the outstanding difference between the founding generation, men like Ben Gurion, - even Begin - and Rabin. The founding generation wanted peace more than anything else. The Netanyahu, Lieberman and Barak generation fears peace more than anything else. They are men determined to kill as many Israelis as necessary to stay in power. And Israelis agree.

with such 'friends' who needs enemies!

IMO, it is more of Turkey trying to flex muscles to re-establish its clout as Ottoman Empire (which ruled both Holy Land and Syria 1453-1918). That would be like UK offering to mediate between India/Bangladesh/Burma in disputes.

David,You always talk about Varlık Vergisi and 6-7 September events. 6-7 september events were NOT toward the Jews. It was aganist Greeks.It was the reaction for the greek massacres towards Cypriot-turks than Turkish invasion happened!! Varlık Vergisi was NOT a punishment for the Jews. Former CHP government thought that essential to become a national economy. Because in that years Turkey was in very bad economical conditions. Those event were not a punishment for the Jews. NEVER!!!

Is this the same Turkish government that keeps attacking Israel? How could they act as mediators? Have we entered a surreal world? The more the Turkish leadership speaks the more I understand why the EU rejected Turkish membership.

Turkeys self serving interest in Syria getting access to the sea of Galilee water motivates their interest in "Peace". Turkey diverted the waters of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers from flowing into Syria and Iraq and hope that they can push Israel into self destruction not only from a defense stand point but economically as well. The sea of Galilee is the largest fresh water source for Israel and the Palestinians. Jordan gets water also receives part of its waters from the sea of Galilee through agreements with Israel. Although called a sea it is only 33 miles in circumference, 13 miles long and 8 miles at its widest, not even a big lake.

Erdogan is just capable in the same breath to insult the jews and beg for them. He understands very well that to be in the news he has to find a subject related to them. He doesn't recognize the Jewish heritage of the patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel grave in Bethlehem. And he wants to mediate for Syria. Amazing

Syria at the moment feels strong - despite fears around 2005, the US never extended the War on Terror there and is now withdrawing from Iraq. They have a young population and leader, and a growing economy. Their military strength and influence over the wider Middle East, remain significant despite their troop pull-out from Lebanon: the political rise of Hezbollah and Hamas has recouped that. This is therefore the worst time to negotiate with Syria. No concession on Golan can be made, without risking strengthening the Syrian military and political position, and hence raising the risks of a catastrophic and expensive war - one that Israel would win, but not without blood, civilian damage and economic loss. We should be trying to counter and even crush Syrian influence and damage its economy - a vicious dictatorship with ties to Iran and terror is surely a strong target for pro-Israeli lobbyists for US/EU sanctions. Get them on their knees. When they are ready to concede, negotiate.

If Turkey is so sure that they will be vindicated once all the archives are out in the open then why do they still keep their archives classified to public? Many historians tried but they were not allowed access to all documents. Some historians such as Stanford Shaw (a strong supporter of Turkish narrative) who were able to access some documents were not given access to the most sensitive ones. This raises doubts. If Turkey has documentation to vindicate them why do they keep these documents classified from the public? Why not unilaterally expose them?

Dear David, surely you have noticed that Sarcozy wanted to play the big boy between IL and SY including Lebanon, yes he even invited both prime minister to meet in Paris, this shows that the french have lost all their credibility to be unest broker, soon the governments in the ME will have to accept the Turkish mediation as genuine and honest the people on the street allready have be it in Lebanon, Syria or Palestine

1. Do you believe PM Erdogan and AKP are making constructive and objective criticism of Israel differentiating the state of Israel from Jews or is it a deeply rooted hatred that is left from the times when they were part of Necmettin Erbakan's party? 2. Do you believe that the general Turkish public (And by that I don't mean the elite, well educated, intellectuals, I mean the ordinary people in the streets of Tarbzon, Adana, Kirikkale, Odemis, Haymana etc) are differentiating between the state of Israel and Jews or just lauding what they are reading at Zaman, Vakit, Mehmet Sevket Eygi, Fehmi Taha Koru etc.?

Interesting to see the diaspora spammers on this site. What Turkey basically wants is to have historians judge whether it's a genocide rather than ignorant politicians who only fill their pockets with lobbyist cash. And what of the 400,000 Turks that died by the hands of Armenian rebels? Tragic how no one mentions that. Basically it was a war. So what do we propose? Basically all we want is a joint historian commission. And we've said it many times. Sounds fair enough doesn't it? If these competent people (consisting of Turkish, Armenian and Swiss historians most likely) decide it's a genocide then so be it, Turkey will accept it. All we want is a fair trial. That's it. But the Armenians don't even want such an independent research to be carried out and refuse to open their archives despite the fact that Turkey has offered to open its own to the public. I wonder why? Perhaps the Armenians are afraid of something.

How do you say the following in Turkish Stick it where the sun don`t shine! "Al gotune sok"

israel will live in peace in the heart of the Arb World when it stops depending on stupid America.

It should immediately declare its undying love for Israel and pledge itself to peaceful friendly relations starting this moment. Then after 25 years, if these relations continue, they might have a shot at getting the Golan.

Turks have to many skeletons in their closets. When the Turks ADMIT of the genocides that they have done and the lands that they have taken be givin back then maybe the World will see turky in a better light. They could learn a lot from Germany

I couldn't agree more with David. However we deny, there is this big tendency of associating the "state of Israel" and an individual Jew - regardless of the nationality (be it Turkish or Israeli) at the same level at some circles in Turkey. Jews of Turkey has always been an integral part of the society in these lands, be it in Ottoman Empire or Republic of Turkey. I believe that the help we offered to Jews more than 500 years ago was novel; and yet the pogroms and the draconian tax were also horrible. In turkey we should differentiate "criticizing Israel" for its wrongdoings and "Jew-bashing" - starting with the politicians..

and will do what the USA says and that is to stand by israel or feel the effects of the free worlds back lash. The pressure is on this fanatic and I'm sure his political party is feeling the effects. Canada has already claimed turkey in genocide with Armenia and will not relent but to see justice prevail

Israel can talk with Syria, with missiles and a ground operation and Turkey will only watch in silent, for its own good.

You wrote: In the past history the Turks have at all times helped the Jews but what the Turks got insted stink for thank. I would say Turkish Jews and Israel have helped Turkey in removing the arms embargo that USA had after the 1974 Cyprus Invasion. This embargo was crippling Turkish economy for many years. Turkish Jews and Israel also prevented the USA Armenian Genocide bills year after year. Historically Jewish subjects of the Ottoman Empire were the most loyal to the empire unlike the Arabs who joined the British and stabbed Turks in the back at WW I. And what did the Turkish Jews receive for that: The pogroms of Kirklareli in 1936, The Varlik Vergisi and the 20th draft military service in 1941, teh 6-7 September pogroms in 1955.

Does the Golan end at the "International Border", or the one which Syria attained by agression ?

Because the Golan is the only way for Syria to enter a ground war with Israel, Syrian control will destabilize the ME. We know recently Bashar has stated he will enter a war if Israel had to fight Lebanon. Prior to 1967 the Golan was used by the Syrians for regular artillery and mortar attacks on Israeli towns. So if a new war were to break out it will force Israel to use tactical nukes as a first strike weapon. The question is, will that threat be enough to keep Syria out of a war. I don't know? Will the threat of leveling Damascus at the opening of a war stop Syria? or could Syria be manipulated by other Muslim nations i.e. Iran, to enter a war anyway as a sacrificial lamb, so to speak? Being a rallying point to unite Muslims worldwide to destroy Israel and maybe the western democracies in general. It seems...at least to me...that Syrian control of the Golan poses more risk not less.

everyone knows that eventually Golan will go back to Syria; mainly due to laws and international pressure. So it's best to get that deal making going on; the benefits could be large--a wounded or weaken Hamas and Hezbollah is a great benefit to all.

Stick it where the sun don't shine!

...whenever the US congress is about to call the Turkish slaughter of over 150,000 Armenian Christians in 1915 the name it truly deserves - GENOCIDE. When will the Turks mediate the end of their 36 year occupation of Famagusta (northern Cyprus) and their near century old occupation of North-west Kurdistan?

It's better to talk with your enemy (he may become your friend) then to fight and get wounded or even killed. Hopefully the talks will lead to some constructive results. // Jan

Israel should feel guilt after all the ofending it did towards Turkiye. In the past history the Turks have at all times helped the Jews but what the Turks got insted stink for thank. I would say

Lets see Syria wants guarantees that Israel will give up 100% of the Golan BEFORE they sit down to talk. Plus, Syria gets to continue to supply Hezbollah and Hamas weapons from Iran and maybe just maybe in ten years or so they will consider a true peace with Israel. It's Great deal for Israel, give up the only way to block Syrian tank divisions from attacking Israel. While Syria is actively working with groups and countries on the record for saying they want to destroy Israel and that Syria will help those groups if a war comes along. Hmmm, Save it, Israel should pass on this wonderful opportunity.

Mediate Turkish- Armenian talks