PMO: No negotiations with Syria as long as it harbors terrorists

It amazes me that people make statements like yours. Nothing personal, my friend, but it does seem that throwing cold water on possibilities closes doors to peace and encourages war in the region. Nice for you that you aren't in the region. Your name isn't Jewish or Moslem. What is your interest?

Conduct peaceful business, show goodwill and peace treaties can follow when bona fides are established. Very sensible. Kol haKavod

you're telling me to calm down , and i am , when it is you who gets all flamed up by your puppy Assad who is calling for peace where you say he doesn't need peace Israel never called your puppy for peace. it ain't neither a surprise that you get more flamed up since you discovered that palestine exist no more , who knows you may calm down once you join your heavenly 72 strippers , IDF box office is open and one way tickets are for sales , sometimes with a discount for two or three or more jihadists on one ticket . Hit the road or join your 72 strippers.

why not, with policies like those by olmert and bush this world is coming up on the new era of " he who has nukes will be respected"... problem here is one of those that may be looking for redemption may go stray and the world would be lit up with mushroom cloud mania. its over, time for arabs and israelis and americans and whomever wants peace to take on the streets and topple these mad men that rule on all sides , do this now before there are no more streets to walk on.

A few years ago Israel preconditioned negotiations with Syria on a Syrian troop withdraw from Lebanon. What happened after Syria withdrew all of their troops from Lebanon? Nothing. Syria practically begged for negotiations and Israel refused. The latest pre-conditions are just another excuse to never make peace. Syria withdrew their troops from Lebanon, and got NOTHING from Israel in response. If Israel were serious about peace, the Syrian troop withdraw would have been matched by an Israeli withdraw. A full withdraw from Golan would have proved Israel's desire for peace. But even a partial withdraw from just Sheba or from the Golan settlements closest to Syria would have been enough show peaceful intentions. Instead Israel announced plans to double the population in the Golan. This proved Israel has no peaceful intentions. Israel has been noted by Israel's actions, not Israel's words just like Syria. Israel's actions are actions of hostility, not of peace.

Syria does not need peace. IF anyone needs peace and security, believe me it is YOU !! So, rather than worrying about puppy Assad, you should worry more about puppy caniche Olmert and his gang. You are heading for big trouble and times from hell. Your arrogance will sink you to the bottom of the earth.

Israel will always find enemies in the arab states as long as it continues its illegal occupation of arab land. There will always be resistance to it, so to ask for Syria to stop harbouring 'terrorists' is a ridiculous request, since they are the reason as to why these 'terrorists' exist in the first place - from Hamas to Hezbollah. So Israel might as well start talking to Syria now rather than later - give the Golan back and work towards peace rather than keep going in circles any longer. Israel is its own worst enemy, it's a shame.

"Israel has always been heavily interested in peace with its neighbours" - tell that to Lebanon. I think what they meant to say is "Israel is heavily interested in the land of its neighbours". Oh well no negotiations with Syria, no peace for Israel.

This Assad terror alawi regime who's supported by just 1% of syrians thugs should first bear the consequences of his murderous actions , and after that to be overthrown than you'll see that Syrians are funny people , and in a heart beat genuine peace could be reached with them. Look at Turkia , they don't even need peace agreements or treaty to have good relations with Israel Each year millions of Israelis travel to turkia, spend good money ect... ect... Instead of Assad threatening for peace thru war , he should zip his mouth , jail all that terror mess in damascus and allow the construction of and aqueduct from Turkia waters thru syria , thru lebanon, thru Jordan , to Israel and sinaii , that, is good business peace to everyone What is he going to do with his missiles feed them to syrians

Getting to the microphones is an old trial balloon tactic used also Assad from time. Assad knows that in the political arena, there is a price for every act, even for lifting FIRST the phone.

Quote " Assad is many things but there is a level of desperation in both his offer for peace talks and his threat of war." If Assad imposes offers and conditions for peace and threats of war , then rather a level of desperation as you see it , did you ever thought of a level of syria aimed confusion against Israel intell services to destabilize Israel to make the right decisions in time of war, For may be there is a high probability that Assad gets wrong info from leb war 2 ground and thinks that Israel didn't make the right decisions and if so than why threats of war now when he could have join hezbo in real time action ,and not just helping hezbo by providing material and info during leb war 2 And may be , beside syria's fear with regard to PM Hariri murder investigation , these syria talks could be a move , to put to sleep the awarness of Israel intell info and Israel public opinion , as a diversion from Iran nukes issue while N.Korea is jumping in to give a hand to this axis of evil. In light of the above , Would you revisit your post about Olmert "testing peace waters" as you suggest, and rather Olmert gov't choice to first lessen up some dificulties by facing head on real threats , for Peace certainly doesn't discourage terror , Look at India versus Pakistan while both are nuclear states . now Imagine nukes in the hands of psychos such as suicidal hamas bombers .

.. full stop.

this approach will work???? What a joke! Instead, How about you START negotiations with Syria so they STOP harboring whom you call terrorists? Huh?

It seems to me that a much more effective method of negotiation is via the telephone. The head of state doesn't have to telephone himself but contacts can be made at a lower level or in neutral cities where both countries have representatives. A sincere offer wouldn't be conveyed in a way dependent on the good graces of the media to convey it correctly. Sounds as if Assad is grandstanding, discussing the problem with the BBC instead of with a diplomatic representative.

Israel would be far better off if it's PM said less, and did more. Not long ago he promised to destroy Hezbollah - his leadership failed to deliver. He promised to stay in Lebanon until the 2 captured soldiers were released. Israel is out of Lebanon, and??? He promised no prisoner swap over Shalit, yet?? Olmert is an incomptetent leader of a failed government. The best he can do now is keep quiet. Based on Olmert's track we're likely to hear of negotiations starting with Syria soon, while terrorists still roam Damascus freely...

Countries negotiatte with enemies to achieve peace, not with friends. In exchange for the Golan Syria should end all support for terrorism in Palestine and Lebanon. If this is what Israel wants, negotiations are the only way to achieve it. But maybe Israel prefers war over peace and fear over security

"not harbouring terrorist groups or the other objections that Miri Eisen raises to talks with Syria, should be conditions for peace not preconditions for negotiations" Hard to understand from a non-Israeli viewpoint why Israel would flatly refuse to talk peace. What's the point? Agreeing to peace talks doesn't commit anybody to anything.

You make A LOT of sense Paul. I feel exactly the same way. Keep good thoughts

Syria the arms suppl;ier for Hizbullah and hazen provider for many terrrorist orgs has fewlt itself grow stronger because oif Hizbullah taking on the IDf and beating them to a draw. Syria sees a real chance now of doing the same. What Assad does not understand, is the restraint shown in a Low intensity conflict versus an all out war. The two are very distinct ands separate differences which assad clearly has missed. Like his father before him, he may live to see IDF tanks in damascus if he decides to make war. Perhaps Israel could colonize Damascus and return the property to 900,000 jews who fled Syria, After all the right iof return works both ways

No negotiations with Syria while it harbors terrorists. I'd go 1 step further - the international community must also stop all trade with Israel while it harbors the terrorists of the IDF and continue to illegally occupy the West Bank; East Jerusalem and Golan Heights. The IDF harbors more terrorists than Syria so this must also be addressed.

My God you're arogant. Assad wants to make peace and YOU would rather have him as an enemy. This guy has tens of thousands of missles, a very LARGE army as well a chemical and biological weapons. NOT that Syria would win a war BUT war is un-necessary. Thank God most Israelis don't have your attitude.

EVERYTHING Olmert says....read the opposite!

as long as it supports illegal Israeli aliens in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the Golan.

That talking to the Syrians is the DUTY of the Israeli govt. This is the only way to solve the problems. Perhaps Israel doesn't want peace. Very foolish since the US is sending an attack fleet to the Persian Gulf.When they attack Iran, Iran will attack Tankers in the gulf, Saudi and Kuwaiti oil fields and of course Israel. With Israel in a weakened state taking back the Golan will be a cakewalk for the Syrians who will demand UN peacekeepers set up on the border. Since the world recognises the Golan as Syrian, Israel will not get it back. Better to make peace and get SOMETHING in return.

Eisin : Now , puppy-Assad , you'll be a good boy if you don't want uncle dog whisperer to pay you a blasted visit. Now , go shake yourself , your Iran and co. friends left too many tyran fleas.

I would think that Syria not harbouring terrorist groups or the other objections that Miri Eisen raises to talks with Syria, should be conditions for peace not preconditions for negotiations.Unless Israel is satisfied with the status quo, why make roadblocks to peace when Syria is offering it?

Peace with Syria is a dream. To tour Damascus and Aleppo is a dream. To trade with the neighbour is a dream. To talk to the locals in Syria is a dream. Maybe one day, this dream will come true!

He keeps making the gesture and we keep saying no, or unless. Then he makes a threat. Can we ignore either? Assad is many things but there is a level of desperation in both his offer for peace talks and his threat of war. What is it that Olmert fears? What is it that disables him from doing what increasing numbers of Israelis are telling him? Israel appears more and more unwilling for peace in the region whilst its neighbours - aggressive like Syria, 'moderates' like Egypt Sauid Arabia and Jordan, distraught like Lebanon -keep offering deals. It would be the mark of the statesman - to which surely Olmdert aspires to being - if he lead an Israeli diplomatic initiative even if it were one just to test the waters, rather than simply saying no conditionally or otherwise. He would also be doing Israel and its citizens good to dream a little of another horizon than the one they currently confront.