Netanyahu: Syria dropping Golan condition for talks

Much better than a referendum as reported today & the Knesset working on changing the law ! Special when Jerusalem is not part of the deal ! Besides, a good example for other arab countries who are talking about peace and doing nothing to prove it !

That's exactly why they need to lease it to us. Their pride can be satisfied, and we can be sure they won't use it for sneak attacks on us because it wont be worth their while. And leasing it from them should be much cheaper than, say, having to relocate all the Israelis from there, or from having to fight another war to keep it.

The Golan is a tiny bit of land in comparison to the size of Syria overall and without great value to Syria. It only ended up attached to Syria as the result of an overly thick pencil line on a colonial power's map. It has never been a major population or industrial center, and even now, is still developing agriculturally. Of course,in ancient times, it was a Jewish area as archeology demonstrates. The two main reasons that Syria NEEDS the Golan, is for restoration of that precious "Arab pride" (always a cultural impediment to meaningful negotiations)and to launch sneak attacks on Israel. It should never be given back.

"syria is irrelevant, economical and military" - Charro So is Mexico, but that doesn't mean it is rational for the US and Mexico be at war.

both sides.Here's why. Israel has been enjoying Syrian property for 40 years. Now each side blames the other, so let's split the blame half and half. Meanwhile, if Israel returns the Golan, we will of course feel like we are doing Syria a big favor and we wont pay him for using it. Assad will get his land back, but no recompense for the 40 years. BUT, if the land is leased - say for 10 years, a value for it will be established. Then Syria can extend the lease for as many periods as it wants, on condition that the 'back rent' is paid for each additional year with a 50% discount. After say, 5 years, a condition of extending the lease could be to allow entry to Syrians to visit, study and work without visas, and after another 5 years to live there without visas. The lease money should be used to build a university in a green city which would have a med school and a 'green energy program' open to all. This city could be the capital city of the Middle East Union when it is established.

Peace is obviously easy to offer, but difficult to produce. Land is easy to return and it may not produce peace. Let us be creative, if only for a moment. Why not establish the foundations of peace before any exchange of precious land. Yes, my friends, I offer that the Syrians should establish a consolute in Israel, end their financial and cultural boycotts and stop fighting a proxy war, on their way to total occupation and annexation of Lebanon. In essence make real steps toward peace, and then we can discuss land. If the land phase does not work out, then all they have to do is close their consolute, reestablish the boycott, and go back to killing their foes in Lebanon. Easy. To reiterate Peace first, Land later! That is if peace is actually their real intention.

Syria in no position to demand anything, the only job they have and for which they get lots of money is to allow weapons from Iran to pass through its territory to hezbollah, otherwiese they are irrelevant. certainly they are not a military power and no economical power, latley assad is tryingf to convince himself and the world that he is wroth of something to be aproached.

Interesting that Israel will retain responsibility for health and education. It is like Maimonedes style with the world running security. Strikes me as ok in line with all plans past present and future.

Netanyahu said,"Hizballah is the real Lebanese Army."So is it really right for the IDF to Leave Ghajar? The French made a bad Map of the southern border of Lebanon in the early 1920's. That bad map is the map that the UN adopted to prove that Ghajar should be divided. Taking a bad map and using it to prove something is a shame that has made over 3000 people live in a village like a jail! It is a lie that Ghajar is Lebanon so why repeat it in the news?

Bibi will find somehow a way not to pursue this unique opportunity; he has a big reserve of "goats". When will Bibi become a statesman and leave petty politics.

what does that mean exactly? Third parties to determine 'talks'? Syria is a joke upon itself.

The ball has always been in our court as have the Heights since 67. At last the Syrians appear to have realised this and perhaps we can now move, in the words of the great Abba Eban "not backwards to belligerency.....but forward to PEACE"

Will go nowhere unless Israel gives back the Golan and then they will want more...and more

Sure, until the first bargaining session. Then Israel will ask the Syria break relations with Iran and Hezbollah and Syria will offer to recognize Israel's borders as established in 1948 before the war if Israel withdraws to those borders and recognizes the independence of a free Palestine. Without preconditions - what a deal!

and hopefully also waving goodbye to the Golan

... does Bibi really believe that we can now forge ahead in that direction...?! ... that anyone will let him...?! ... that after his Justice Min has installed halacha as Israel's official law, we will 'give up' one dunam anywhere...?

Natenyahu is a big layer he is trying to get the public opinion again as he is losing now with this massive campaign by settlers against him.

it really is comical how you can belittle any progressive move, especially one such as leaving out the Golan Heights as a precondition. I think that this is a HUGE concession that Syria has made. The ball is now in Israels court--what do you think they will do with it?

negotiations. All will be able to benefit from it.

why is it the Syrians are expected to do what the Israelis do not even talk about? The Israelis interfere with every state's doings in the region and yet Syria, a country with 1/1000 the resources somehow is to blame? Ridiculous. Israel has the military equivalent to Western states, an economy and living standards also very comparable but we are supposed to be worried about Iranian arms traveling through Syria to Hizballah? THis is so ludicris I can not believe it is even an issue. Let Syria be or at least criticize it for legitimate issues

has israel gone beyond peace with its neighbors. has animosity and distrust between both sides so deep that it is cannot be mended? Israel has much to fear from giving full sovereignty to palestine. Israel fears iran, hezbollah infiltrating west bank not to mention an outright military;political alliance between a newly formed palestine with its arab and persian allies. It seems that israel must bear the burden and must take a leap of faith that palestine will be responsible with its future sovereignty. to deny full sovereignty to palestine will only be viewed as continued israeli occupation, and a continued state of war. a classic catch 22, no peace without security, no security without peace...

there is only one price acceptable for peace with syrians and palestinians and lebanon; a return to the 1967 (condition for palestinians)a return of the Golan to Syria and a return of chebba farms to lebanon. anything short of this and there is no peace. the solution is right in front of israel, if she does not want peace then she mush continue to occupy one or all of these territories.

Will Syria stop supporting/providing refuge for terror groups? Will they stop interfering in Lebanon? Syria is no threat to Israel and will never recover the Golan heights.

Don't embarass Egypt. Finish the Shalit deal before it comes apart. You need Egypt and Turkey! Two major nations that you can't afford to embarass!

Syria has negotiated many times in the past with Israel, both directly and indirectly, without Israel moving a single soldier off the Golan. For those of weak memory, they did so most recently in 2008. Is Netanyahu trying to spin a non-event into a big victory, and are you buying it?