Report: Syria willing to consider phased Golan pullout

"special interest section of the US embassy" is translated to mean Israeli consulate embedded within the US embassy in Damascus. Since the Mossad already has free use of the embassy, Israel is not really getting anything new. That israeli government is considering a phased withdrawal, where israel turns over golan, bit by bit to the americans in return for political statements from syria isn't a terrible idea. But Israel won't be satisfied with anything that Syria will say since it won't include Syria renouncing relations with Hezbollah or Iran. Israel doesnt' care about Syrian recognition of their right to exist, and they don't care about syrian ambassadors visiting israel. Israel will not be satisfied, and they will insist America hand the golan back to them. This isn't going anywhere. Since Syria is so extremely isolated, they will not give up Iran (and its Hezbollah ally) without first getting massive foreign aid and investment from american, England, and France. Won't happen

"Syria started..1948" Jewish forces were already beyond Israel's Declared Sovereign territories 14th May '48. Israel inherited the non-state entities action. The Jewish Agency was not a state, it didn't Declare War. Syria had a right, as a Sovereign power in the region, as did the other states, to protect their ward, the non-state entity of Palestine. Of which Israel was no longer a part by 15th May 1948. 1967 Same 1973 Same 1982 Same "should i go on?" Please do. Israeli forces always been out of bounds since the moment Israel's boundaries were announced by Declaration, accepting, unconditionally, UNGA res 181. ".and syria lost all of them" It is inadmissible to acquire territory by war. This applies to every state, non-state, Sovereign state. It is also illegal to unilaterally annex territory. This is Israel ... http://tinyurl.com/yjgh5lj no more, no less. There is no article in res 181 requiring CO-SIGNING. Independence is by it's very nature.....UNILATERAL

" california " Same. "give back all the land you yanks took from the native indians.." A) The United States of America is spelled A U S T R A L I A ? WOW! B) There are laws against the acquisition of territory by war since BEFORE Israel became a state, partly because of those early colonistas. Say, are they still colonizing? Dispossessing ? Building illegal settlements? Refusing RoR? Slaughtering little girls because they walk to close to a fence? Shooting news reporters with indiscriminate fletchettes? Jailing kids for throwing the rocks that were once their homes? Many checkpoints, orchards being bulldozed, illegal annexation, separation barriers cutting farms in half? Can American Indians chose a wife from a different country and then not live with her in America? Oh I get it. If the US gives the land back to the Indians, Israel will give back what is not rightfully Israeli...right? Good idea. Glad you're of sound mind.

VERY care fully. They neither threatened Israel OR attacked any of it's newly declared Sovereign territory at the outset of war 1948. There is no UNSC resolution condemning the Arab Leagues action. They were the representative of the non-state entity of Palestine. By May 15th, Israel was no longer a part of Palestine. As regional (collectively and singularly) power's, under the UN Charter, they had every right to protect their ward from Jewish forces already over Israel's newly declared Sovereign boundaries at the moment the Jewish People's Council accepted and declared Sovereignty over the boundaries of UNGA res 181. The Arab League attacked Jewish forces OUTSIDE of Israel on May 15th 1948. As war progressed they also attacked armed forces and persons inside of Israel. (which is quite legal in once a war has started). The Arab Declaration does not threaten Israel. It OUTLINES the legal case and says very clearly at the top 'Declaration on the Invasion of PALESTINE'

242...that it was between STATES, so the Geneva Conventions apply. That Israel controls "territories occupied". 'territories occupied' and not withdrawn from are STILL occupied! That Sovereign integrity and boundaries were to be acknowledged, (not negotiated) the words negotiate and negotiated do not appear ANYWHERE. http://wp.me/PDB7k-6r San Remo.. that it would be a PALESTINIAN State, with PALESTINIAN civilians under PALESTINIAN Law and that the British would help Jews become PALESTINIAN Citizens. http://tinyurl.com/y8ewves/sovereignty-state-non-state-entity/#Mandate Stop tawkin' tosh.

your fallacies will un-ravel.

e: "Given that your 'defensive expansionism' thesis only lies at the outcome of the Six Day War -as only Golan Heights and Judea/Samaria are still under occupation" The logical fallacy is this: just because a policy has failed does not "prove" that this was never the policy. You seem to forget that WHILE Israel still held the Sinai it did, indeed, get busy building "Jews only" settlements there. That they eventually abandoned that settlement enterprise should not obscure the fact that before Yom Kippur thumped some sense into it Israel was *quite* determined to keep the Sinai for itself. e: ...."reading IDF & basic military doctrine. In which you will find that since Israel is really small, wars should be waged in enemy territory to be able to defend better as well as better political outcomes" And where does "colonization" fit into that rosy picture, eze?

17: "I understand you adherence to 'it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State..' is not absolute" Consider this: 1) A contract is placed in front of you. 2) Nobody can FORCE you to sign that contract. 3) But if you *do* sign it then your signature binds you i.e. you becomes obliged to the terms of that contract. CJ spoke of "VOLUNTARY obligations" as binding agreements that are VOLUNTARILY entered into i.e. he is not saying that the "obligation" is merely "voluntary" (which would be, of course, a contradiction). 17: "you brought instead 'Law came into being, forbidding the illegal acquisition of territory by war/force or unilateral annexation' " Treaty Law does rather require those little things called "treaties". Israel voluntarily signed those treaties, 17. 17: "The subject of International Law is the STATE not collection of residents of geographic area." Gosh! Last time I looked both Israel and Syria were STATES.

Let us not forget that the golan heights, jerusalem, gaza, sinai, and the occupation of southern lebanon happened only because the arabs either attacked or threatened Israel!!!

give back texas and california to mexico the ngive back all the land you yanks took from the native indians then you may have the unmitigated gall to lecture us. by the way good job on the act of genocide against the native indians,... your leaders belong in the hague

1948 1967 1973 1982 should i go on? and syria lost all of them

war with Israel. Loser do not get to ictate terms. giving back the golan is suicide for israel. maybe he should consider unconditional surrender or peace without preconditions. these arabs need to do something positive for ONCE

"Syria would hardly place the extremly high risk on their current relations with these parties and Iran for a peace process which can possibly fail. " Thank you for clarifying the Syrian position. You have also made it clear why Israel is smart to refuse to give back the Golan given how the Syrians operate. "These parties" being Hezbollah and Hamas are valuable to the Syrians which therefore makes peace with Israel impossible. As others have expressed it would be foolish for Israel to give back strategic positions if Syria still wants to make war with Israel by aiding and abetting her enemies. An embassy in Israel or an Israeli embassy in Damascus means nothing if Syria still has belligerent intentions.

Dear Mr. Steve Meyer. Golan does not belong to Israel. When the United Nations, in 1948, decided the Palestinian partition, the borders were drawed, and accepted by the new State. Then, those Heights belong to Syria. I believe Israel oughts to give its back only if Syria recognizes her existence, like Egypt and Jordan have done. But the Jewish State, that I admire, can not be guided by territorial ambitions. Peace over all. Luiz Felipe Haddad.

no 82, nattalie durson from los angeles. i fully agree with your reaction. it is the "fait accomplit" policy of the zionists untill they will meet their own "fait accompit". hope that as less innocent people will become victims of it.

A) No state was promised B) The Geneva Conventions apply because the parties were STATES. Sovereign boundaries had to be acknowledged, not negotiated and that "territories occupied" are occupied until they're withdrawn from.

The Golan is what makes Israel defensible from potential attacks launched from Syria. To give it back to Syria would be a bad move and would invite the Syrians to gain prestige with Hezbollah and Hamas, thereby giving it greater influence in Lebanon and Gaza. This could be a VERY bad move for Israel.

Slowman has been working as censor for a few years now and hasn't learned to do his work as fast as other censors. Indeed, he has remained extremely slow and irritates all posters with his slowness. It stands to reason that Slowman is physically challenged and is unable to speed up. Perhaps Haaretz derives some benefit from employing Slowman. It could be that the Welfare Ministry subsidizes Slowman's employment. We the posters do not wish to cause Haaretz extra expenses, but we may be able to offer some suggestions to speed up the process. My suggestion is that instead of one Slowman doing a full time job, Haaretz should hire two Slowmen, each working half time. After every 4 hour shift by a Slowman there should be a regular 8 hour shift by a fully able censor. That censor will be responsible for catching up with all the posts that the preceding Slowman skipped. Our suffering will be reduced this way. I open the forum for discussion and more suggestions by other posters.

don't let reality get in the way.

17: "I understand you adherence to 'it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State..' is not absolute" 1) Here is a contract. 2) It is a legal document. 3) Nobody can force you to sign it. 4) But if you do then that signature BINDS you. It is the same with TREATIES i.e. nobody can *make* Israel sign a treaty, but when Israel *does* sign a treaty then that signature binds Israel. Israel signed the UN Charter, did it not, 17? Israel signed the GCs, didn't it? 17: "The subject of International Law is the STATE not collection of residents of geographic area." Syria is a state, and so is Israel. Israel has unilaterally declared its annexation of Israeli-occupied territory that belongs to Syria. Israel did that *AFTER* it signed the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions, both of which forbid the acquisition of territory by force. You have no leg to stand on.

In it's dealing with us the UN has ignored all international laws and treaties. First off they ignore the fact that they violated the UN Charter in attempting to partition Israel again. Second they violated the UN Charter to demand that we take in any Arab that ever claimed to have lived in Israel. Third they violated the UN Charter when they allowed all the Arab nations that invaded to remain members. Fourth they put illegal conditions on Israeli membership to the UN. The list is very long. The UN is the biggest violator of international laws and it is all directed at us. Over 95% of the resolutions written by the UN violate one or more international laws or treaties. That is why we ignore them.

law or the UN works against the security of Israel then screw the UN. They are a sorry lot of corrupt and inept buffoons anyway. They can't agree on anything or get anything done. Send them to African and what do they do? Rape women and children with impunity ! The Golan will IS Israel's as long as there is a Syria. That might not be very long if Syria starts another war. Any territory that Israel needs to protect its borders will be taken and held. If Syria wants to go at it again they may lose even more territory.

She told us not to trust Jews. Luckily I never bought into generlaities or racist tripe. Too bad #7 that you've remained so closed minded.

30 years after "peace" with Egypt, the nation still looks at Israel as "the Enemy". So too does Jordan after more than 15 years of "peace". Excuses run the gammut, but the end story is the return of land has not meant real peace. Syria's trying the same flat strategy. Assad want's what's on the shelf? Fine, cards on the table time, what are you going to offer. The Golan is too valuable to waste of some counterfeit coin.

Well my argument might not be that strong but it actually shreds the claim that on every war Israel gained territory, which is what you sustain. Given that your "defensive expansionism" thesis only lies at the outcome of the Six Day War -as only Golan Heights and Judea/Samaria are still under occupation-, then a war waged more than 40 years ago is not enough to support your "defensive expansionism" characterization, which would be, at best, outdated. Israel fought many other wars that do not reflect your "defensive expansionism" explanation. On another note: if other wars were fought in Syria & Lebanon territory, you could benefit from reading IDF & basic military doctrine. In which you will find that since Israel is really small, wars should be waged in enemy territory to be able to defend better as well as better political outcomes (by the way, a goal that Israel has failed miserably over the years).

Golon to hurt the other. Perhaps a mini-"2 state solution" One side in total control will not satisfy the other.

Israel has had control now of the Golan longer then Syria ever did. They are a colonial country whose boarders were designed by the French. They are giving long range missles to Hezbollah. The ability and need to be able to sniper jews from the heights is no longer needed. Let it go.

from all that so-called "Israeli" wine produced on Syrian land.

try san remo too . then you wont post garbage!!

the peace-card! That is a very brilliant move. How can we defend ourselves against that?

For what? So that it can be used as high ground to attack again Israel yet again? Peace--- REAL peace, including full acceptance of Israel as a nation among nations, FIRST. Then and only then should return of The Golan even be considered!

Egypt was and is much more powerful than Syria in all aspects. they didm it the right way, Sadat went to israel to make peace.Who the Syrians think they are to just utter some wrods of empty and by far realistic promises in order to regain the Golan. Iarel shoudl demand: before they give back the golan, full state of peace, embasies, public renounce of support of hamas and hezbollah, demilitarised the area, denounce Iran for the way they aproach Israel,and a full unequivocal comitment for peace in the region. how about this for a start

When are Muslims going to realize that terrorist groups like Hizbollah and Hamas are bad for everybody? Why didn't Muslims use some muscle to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel? Who can blame Israel for reciprocating after years of these attacks? Muslims, use your heads! The direction Erdogan is taking with regard to risking his secular state is alarming. It doesn't help that Turkish Muslims from the WW I era have one of the worst reputations in human rights on record.

Considering the legal pretext in international law that forbids any nation to acquire or annex land through military conquest. Israel is a signatory of the conventions that require her to comply with such laws. It really is as cut and dry as that. Of course, it is normal that any nation, including Israel, should require from Syria a normalization of relations to ensure peace is kept, but really, Israel has nothing to fear from Syria. We both know that Israel has the capacity to easily annihilate all of her enemies. We also both know that the United States would come to her rescue in any defensive protocols if Israel was attacked (but not neccessarily if she is attacked because of a retaliation from an Israeli first strike). The Golan Heights belongs to Syria and it's about time Israel lives up to the international treaties that she is a signatory to.

that's code, for let's wait, build, fortify, so that one day, when strong enough, we can resumethe attack. These people are full of shit.

No evidence? Israel, since 1948, has taken control and now occupies East Jerusalem, "Judea and Samaria" as well as the Golan Heights, which according to international law, are all considered occupied territory. The Golan Heights is Israel most important natural water source, and East Jerusalem is now a part of Israel's "Eternal and Undivided" capital. But you say the assertion that Israel's defense policies are expantionist in nature is nonsense just because they have not illegally annexed ALL the territory they have occupied with military force? Is that your argument? If it is, it's a very weak one.

Why doesn't Israel start to believe and follow the rules of the Unites Nations? The security council rulings and the basic charter of the United Nations are the two legal documents that Israel should have been following by joining the U.N. but refuses to follow. Part of the U.N. charter is that land cannot be annexed that was gained from "spoils of war." And member countires of the U.N. are to follow this post WWII philosophy. I believe these land conflicts have gone to judicial review in the Hague and decisions were made against Israel. So, it's inevitable that the Golan will go back to the Syrians; it's an issue of timing--so why not sooner than latter?

For additional reading about Israeli motives please review the World Zionist Organization's outline for the boundaries of the future state of Israel at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919.

Who is paying Eldar to destroy Israel? We already HAVE peace with Syria through STRENGTH. Why do we want the world to 'love us'? they never will... Is Eldar Delusional or Dangerous,, or BOTH? Once again, Eldar is an embarrasment - Peace for Peace and NOT Land for Peace Eldar not only wants to give away the Jewish Golan but the northeastern Kinneret shore to Syria. Putting Syria on the Kinnert is tantamount to suicide. Thats where Israel gets alot of its water. The shoreline and the lake were not historically part of Syria. Syria occupied them in 1948 after a war of aggression it launched against Israel. This is a no compromise issue for Israel. The Golan is where the tribes of Dan and Menashe settled, and Israeli kings ranging from Saul to Herod ruled there. The Golan saw consecutive Jewish settlement for 800 years; 300 Jewish communities from the time of the Mishna and Talmud were discovered there, along with the remnants of 27 synagogues. Later, 1,000 years of desolation followed, until the Jews returned. The Golan belongs to us because it is the estate of our forefathers and not only by the power of occupation in a defensive war against an aggressor, like America in Texas and Poland and former German territories.

"The state of war between the Parties will be terminated and peace will be established between them upon the exchange of instruments of ratification of this Treaty. "

Sure, I'd talk peace too if I were to get back everything that I wanted before the talks begin.Syria and Iran are just looking for an excuse to bring war on Israel in order to anhilate them; and to them one excuse is just as good as another. Iran is afraid that Israel will wipe out their offensive capabilities.

Syria controlled the Golan for only 21 years, half the period it has been under Israeli rule. Almost half of its territory has been purchased by Rothschild and later robbed by the Syrian government in 1946. Jews that settled in the Golan under Rothschild were expelled, massacred in 46 by Syria. The Golan Heights was part of the British Mandate borders of 1917. The Golan was never part of Syria before 1946. The Brits made a deal to give away the Golan to France in 1923. France then gave away the Jewish Golan to terrorist Syria in 1946, Subversive cells of LEFT-WING RADICALS like Alon Liel and Akiva Eldar have no right to give away our inherited homeland. East Jerusalem and the Golan are the ancestral inheritance of Jews the world over. Appeasing Hitler did not work before WW II. Appeasing modern-day enemies of the Jewish people will work no better. They will only turn the West Bank and East Jerusalem into terrorist bases from which to attack Israel, just as they did with Gaza

America forced Israel out of the Sinai as part of the deal for Egyptian peace. Hizbollah forced Israel out of Lebanon after making the cost of occupation too much for Israel to bear. The settlers were removed from Gaza as a security precaution, but Israel still controls Gaza 100%. As for the Golan, unless Israel is forced out by America as part of a peace deal, or forced out by making the cost of occupation too high, the will never leave. Look at the west bank as the model. Israels strategy is to put so many settlers into the territories that they will claim that a withdrawal is impossible.

Syria attacked Israel, aligned with Iran, built a clandestine nuclear program, rearmed Hezbollah and supports Islamic terrorism. Part of the the price they pay for their ongoing dishonesty and stupidity is forfeiture of the Golan. As Syria never seems to learn from its mistakes chances are that they will pay a much higher price in the future.

1. The Golan belongs to Syria by international law, so as long as Israel occupies it there is motivation for the Syrians to go to war. They will not succeed, as Sadat failed militarily, but won his Sinai back anyway. Why go through a war to do the obvious? 2. Peace with Syria means also peace with Lebanon, as Asad has achnowledged. 3. Hizballah will be cut off from its arms supplier Iran. Israel controls the sea approaches, has good intelligence, and can stop such arms shipments. 4. Iran will be weakened by losing its northern arm. Hizballah now deploys missiles as an implied threat to Israel if it attacks Iran. 5. Hamas will be weakened. Mashal will be kicked out of Syria, and also no arms to reach Hamas from Lebanon. 6. The Palestinian position in general will be weakened, being last in the peace line with no real state support. They will be easier to deal with. 7. Netanyahu can deliver this peace. He can`t make peace with the Palestinians: Likud is too ideological.

Syria wants the Golan back, and Israel (should) want peace and security. All the detail of this deal are to be worked out during the peace negotiations, as is obvious. For example, in the Sinai case, Sadat received a phased withdrawl in return for phased normalization of relations with Israel during each phase. Unfortunately, Israel wants the Golan to keep. I don't see much new in the article, except a particular hint by Syria (which I pointed out on theoretical grounds before), that its relations with Iran could change after peace. This clearly makes sense. At this point Syria cannot insult Iran, its main protector, by admitting publicly that it will prefer friendship with the West. But the fact is that Iranian and Syrian regimes are very different. Iran is Fundamentalist Shiite while Syria is secular and mostly Sunni. Right now they are bedfellows, but have fundamentally opposing interests.

1. 5,000 soldiers was more than enough to dissapear a kibbutz. Perhaps you should actually see one so you can get the picture of what you are talking about. 2. They stayed out of 1956 as it was not their business to deal with other sovereign states's wars. So they did in 2006 - unless they were an occupying force? which they certainly were during the 80s and 90s. 3. Preemptive strike in 1967 was launched over Egypt. Syrians just went to the bandwagon to retaliate over the ongoing conflicts in the UN-Zone from the 1949 Green Lines. 4. 1973 war, as you already know, was started by the Egyptians. So your argument is pointless. 5. Why should Syrians be involved in palestinian conflicts such as Cast Lead or Defensive Shield? From your senseless comments I see that you assume Syria is entitled (and should) deal with every conflict in the region, no matter what. You are totally wrong, sir.

The Egyptians *first* signed a peace treaty with Israel, and *then* Israel withdrew from the Sinai. What was good enough for Egypt then, is good enough for Syria now. For Syria to suggest otherwise is rubbish. No peace treaty, no Golan. MV

Dear #45, preemptive israeli strike was launched upon Egypt and it was Operation Focus. Although many thought that Six-Day war was going to break with Syria, it did not. Also, your statements on "defensive expansionism" lack of evidence. Please just see the maps and take a look at how the israeli territory changed since 1948. No Gaza, no Sinai, no Lebanon; which IDF did, at some point in history, conquered.

Sir, I understand you adherence to "it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State.." is not absolute - you brought instead "Law came into being, forbidding the illegal acquisition of territory by war/force or unilateral annexation" The subject of International Law is the STATE not collection of residents of geographic area. ... and education - it is good idea to educate yourself - and you need it - yesterday you wrote a lot of gibberish on subject of "enzymes" - you are not supposed to know it but your pretension to knowledge is revealing. ps. you are correct 1778 precedes 1945

Its not a good idea for Syria to fly a kyte as it might be seen as a terrorist plot by Israel and the IDF will blow the whole country to bits

Do you wear your shoes on the wrong feet as well?

" would you insist the US to revert to the initial territory?" Have they illegally annexed? Or have they legally annexed under treaties? What have they illegally acquired by war since International Law came into being, forbidding the illegal acquisition of territory by war/force or unilateral annexation? "The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia that fought the American Revolution and declared independence in July 1776 as the United States of America" I believe 1778 was before 1945. "No one is asking anything more than the US adhere to it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State..." CJ/? " See above, educate yourself, check dates, facts, instead of making argument based on complete ignorance.

Either they don't understand our psychology or we don't understand theirs. Just last week Assad and Achjemhad spoke of a ME without Zionists (read Jews). This week they hint they want to negotiate. Maybe they just want to negotiate us to death? Novel idea, but no thanks.

No I understood the article. The syriabstatement is so ridiculous it sounds like a script out of Monte Python.

Syria attacked israel may times and lost all the wars and lost the golan as a result. Now syria wants the golan back. What is syria willing to trade. Their word of peace is worthless. All their actions and countries they associate with indicate an enemy state not one wishing peace. A document of peace is worthless when a govt changes or a cartoon is printed in the muslim world

Every inch of the Golan is sacred... it's a matter if honor, the Syrian FM said. What honor... who on this planet considers the Syrians honorable. Recently, when Iraq requested extradition of al-Queda terrorists from Syrian soil, the not so honorable Syrians replied with lies and deception. During the Hariri assassination probe... the Internal Security forces of the Syrian Baath Party cultivated a culture of murder and elimination of every possible witness. Now there's venerable honor for you. So today, the Syrian FM can say... it's a matter of respect and honor, yes we get it Mr. Foreign Minister.

J: " Israel has never started a war of extinction with Syria but Syria initiated such a war against Israel many times," When, exactly? Their "mighty invasion" in 1948 consisted of exactly 5,000 soldiers; not even enough to "exterminate" a kibbutz, let alone the state of Israel. They sat out the 1956 war. They didn't start the 1967 war. They fought the 1973 war ENTIRELY on Syrian soil. They fought the IDF in 1982 ENTIRELY inside Lebanon. They stayed out of the 2006 war. They sat on their hands throughout Operation Defensive Shield, Operation Summer Rain, and Operation Cast Lead. I'm struggling to see any attempt by Syria to "exterminate" Israel. Yeah, sure, sure, I know it's a given amongst ZIONISTS that Syria is frothing out the mouth to "exterminate" Israel but, so sorry, there's that little problem of "lack of evidence" backing that claim up.

The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia that fought the American Revolution and declared independence in July 1776 as the United States of America. "No one is asking anything more than the US adhere to it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State..." CJ/?

Unless the Iranian threat is being removed from the Mideast, Israel will never have a meaningful peace with Syria. Syria always have different plans in different times. The ruling Ba'ath party is nothing more than a mere al Assad family slogan. Syria is used to regime change. Syria was never reliable with its Arab brother countries. Syria's unity with Nasser's Egypt didn't lasted long. Its relation with Iraq & Lebanon was notoriously disastrous. The only way to talk peace with Syria, if Bashar will do like Sadar & come to Jerusalem. A sign of atonement that is needed with all Arab Countries before any meaningful peace.

What a selective little memory you have Jacques. Funny, but you don't remember what Israel did to Lebanon in 'Grapes of Wrath' or misnamed 'Peace for Galilee' or Sabra and Shatilla or the 2006 wrecking escapade. Tens of thousands died in those events, some of which were spent trying to install a fascist[Phalangist]puppet Gov. Still, if one wishes to find excuses to follow the example of Golda Meir's arrogant refusal to contemplate returning the Sinai for peace in 1971, then one should at least understand the consequences of such sclerosis.

Without a peace deal with Syria means a welcome to Iran to play a big role in the Middle East.

that is the only reason this region is in any semblance of peace. Just a little bit to the south 12 year olds are given AK - 47 and slaughter tribe on tribe and rape and take posessions, until the next wave of 12 year olds crop up. And there is no Israel to blame for anything. There was one... so called Apartheid... it's gone. Now they are all equal and own up to their rights. And what worries me is not Israel overwhelming force, ensuring fagile peace in the region. But the continued belligerence of West that sees this peace as a deterrent to extract super profits from the place. A game in which Hamas does not hesistate to partake and should be erased for it as a political and religious movement. Traders of life will be fisted. Those wanting commerce shell come with purse.

Can game theory war planners predict the outcome of armed conflicts with over a 90 per cent certainty? Of course they can. Anyone that believes that Israel's so-called defensive pre-emptive policies just "happened" to result in the acquisition of more land is extremely naive. Israel's steady expansionist policies that continued since the end of the 1949 war up until today (including a recent announcement of 600 new Jewish housing units being built in East Jersualem) speak for themselves. It's a total no-brainer. If Israel wants peace, she has to stop the expansionist policies, and she has to give reparations to the dispossed. This is international law, the same laws that saw holocaust survivors and their offspring receive untold billions in reparations for their sufferings under the Nazis. This is how justice and law works. I suspect that Israel does not want peace because peace means Israeli expansionism must come to a halt.

I wonder if is enough to return the Golan Heights to achieve peace. When they were in Syrian hands, 1948-1967, Israel received thousands of shells from it. The equation runs opposite: Israel will consider returning the first square inch of Golan Heights only to a friendly country.

Are you insane? I stated you had the nuclear deterent, which is enough to ensure the integrity of your borders and the security of Israeli citizens. Name me one country in history with a nucear weapon that has been invaded. This is what I am stating, which I think was very clear to anyone with any sense. "Some people are too brave for own good... when they talk out of armchairs." Using nuclear weapons on such a close neighbour as Syria would be suicide for Israel, as the winds would likely carry over poisonous nuclear materials into the air over Israel, which could increase cancer rates at least thee-fold for Israelis; not a good choice. Israel has the fourth most powerful military in the world and Arab states understand very well that attacking Israel would be suicide for their nation's and their people. It's not going to happen. The only way that Israel will be attacked is if Israel pre-emptively attacks another nation, as she did in the 1967 war.

... he wanted just one bit of symbolic shore... ... maybe he would have sufficed with a Golan jacuzzi, had we been willing... ... to know-thine-enemy is not necessarily to anticipate the worst and act by that...

First of all, the game Syria is playing is that ALL the militarity important territory is in the 1st 10 percent, the deep uncrossable canyon separating much of the Golan from the rest of Syria. As soon as they get that, they find an excuse to call off the "peace process", and IDF has their backs to the escarpment cliffs to the West. Bibi is not going to fall for that. Second, Syria has yet to fulfil its obligations from the LAST Israeli withdrawal, having failed to rebuild and repopulate Kuneitra, which was a condition of Israel leaving it. Third, negotiations are pointless until Syria honors its existing promises; talks on the Golan shouldn't even start until Syria retrieves ALL the rockets it delivered to Hezbollah and stationed in South Lebanon, west of Golan cease-fire line and effectively violating it, as well as UNSC1701. With Syrian-armed Hezbollah in Lebanon, why would Israel give him anything while he retains option to wage war via his proxy, Assad's obvious, transparent plan.

... we can't expect anything spectacular after our balking for so many years...

The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia that fought the American Revolution and declared independence in July 1776 as the United States of America. "No one is asking anything more than the US adhere to it`s VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State..." CJ/?

Golan is a long way from home....

Taking a gamble on the Syrians is a grave mistake! That parasitic regime cannot be trusted. With one side of the mouth they utter words of peace and reconciliation, while with the other they pay Iran and HA lip service. Let's not forget what they did to Lebanon. They sucked the country dry in almost 30 years, Syphoning billions of dollars annually! Syria can be trusted? I think not!

are you suggesting our using nuclear deterrent in the next conflict with Syria? Some people are too brave for own good... when they talk out of armchairs.

but doesn't want to do a thing to achieve it. For some reason Israel, Israelis and Israel firsters believe Israel is negotiating from a position of strength. Which is why it is reasonable for Syria and Iran to achieve nuclear parity with Israel. Until that happens there will be no peace, because Israel has military dominance over the region.

S: "The Golan till 1922 was part of Palestine." There wasn't a "Palestine" nor was there a "Syria" until the Principal Allied Powers defined the boundary between those two Mandates. It said so in the very first paragraph of the Mandate text. That required a Franco-British Boundary Commission, and it wasn't until AFTER it had defined the boundary between those two that the Mandate actually came into effect. S: "Britain gave it to the French" And the French "gave" the area around the Dan to the British, or didn't you know that? Funny, but I don't hear any Israelis claiming that they have to give the Dan back to Syria... What's theirs is theirs, and what's yours is also theirs and - heck! - they'll just take that too while they're at it...

Are they for real? As per article: "When asked about a change of relationship with Hamas and Hezbollah, he said that it will not negotiate any change in its relationship with Hezbollah and Hamas until after the Golan is returned. "Key questions, such as Syria's support for Hamas, Hezbollah and its policy to Iran - would only be answered after withdrawal," he said." This is no different than me buying a house, paying for it in cash and THEN negotiating terms and conditions!! This scenario does not happen in real life. Why should the Golan be any different? For Israel to hand over a strategic peace of real estate, vital for the security of the nation, without any preceding discussions is naiive at best!

Israel is a signatory to the Geneva Conventions and is a member of the United Nations, thus, she is subject to international laws and treaties, including those that state very clearly, and unoquivocally, that an a nation can not acquire land through military conquest. This is very simple and straightforward, and all UN resolutions addressing the Golan Heights have repeated this over and over again. The fact that most Israelis can't seem to comprehend shows the level of ignorance and ingenious attitudes that the country has for International Laws and treaties. Israel has the military capacity to take on 50 Syrias, and to win convincingly. Israel has the nuclear deterent; what is she worried about? What is all this nonsense? Maybe, just maybe, it is her expansionist policies masquerading as a defense strategy. Just look at the facts on the ground. The international community is neither blind, nor stupid.

they were however paying a heavy price, and were eventually kicked out by the Lebanese resistance. Israel apparently understands only one language, and that is not Hebrew.

Was it not Israel that pre-emptively started the six day war with her enemies by attacking and then subsequently occupying Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula. Remember? Operartion "Moked"? Any seasoned military analyst at the time knew that Israel had the fire power to knock out all of her enemies, as she had a massive military advantage, even against the combined militaries of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. This was a no-brainer for any military strategist of the time. So why did Israel attack Egypt commencing the six day war if she had a massive military edge? Perhaps, if we look at the continued conquest and colonial settlement of the West Bank, we may be able to deduce that Israel's "defensive" policies are indeed expansionist in nature. Perhaps Israel started the six day war knowing she would be able to conquer more land. Based on clear policies and facts on the ground in what is supposed to be a future Palestinian State, I don't think such a conclusion is much of a stretch.

You can share the Golan and with Israel's expertise and oil money build green desalination plants, develop the agriculture, the culture and make the best out of the ME.

The Idea shuld be clear if you place yourself as the Syrians here: With experience, the Syrian have always lacked trust in Israel. Syria would hardly place the extremly high risk on their current relations with these parties and Iran for a peace process which can possibly fail. Syria instead makes a bigger leap towards Peace and more of a proof of good intentions, which is having an embassy in Israel, usually one of the final steps in a peace process. Israel would also place its peaceful embassy in Damascus. This would have both parties obligated to move forward, with little chance for bad surprises. Meant to be hard to swallow, Israel will perhaps give part of the Golan, secured by the US (which Israel cant hit like UN forces) in return for embassy exchange... Then Negotiate a peace settlement with all these groups through Syria. A Peace agreement with Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria means an Iran without reason to attack or threaten Israel, hence chance for settlement with Iran.

Fair enough, there is no Israel in the equation.

any day or month. What else do you need for peace? You shot at unarmed and civilians who have not offered any resistance, armed or un - armed for years. Then you started murdering them with artillery. You lost the war. In the name of peace we are willing to share land with your citizens for peaceful coexistence. That is where it begins and ends. We have no war with Syrians. However the regime who tried murder of civilians because they are Jewish will not enjoy sponsorship of our state. Nor shell you demand it, least you want people to laugh at you.

...Syria was, and remained for the last 60 years, a rabid enemy of Israel, even when others calmed down at times. The only reason I do not extrapolate that into the future is that Rabin, and now Barak, want peace with Syria. What, and how they thought to achieve it is a mystery to me. Particularly when Assad's father's reason to maintain the state of war was to be able to wash his feet in the Kinneret...our only lake that is synonym with Israel itself!

If Syria really wanted Peace with Israel they would do everything in their power to stop the flow of arms to Hezbollah, come out against the lunatic dictator in Iran...and stop talking with two mouths. Following their current stand it cannot be assumed they want Peace at all and this Oxford professor is running behind the current events big time. The Syrians just want the Golan and that is why they have done nothing besides teaming up with other shady regimes. The sign is at the wall.

What are Israel's chances without the Golan in a conventional war with Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran and what is the definition of a "Hudna"?

I love it when every few years an Arab country says to Israel "hey you know that time when we tried to destroy your country and it ended up in us losing more land? well can just forget the whole thing when we tried to destroy your country and you give us our land back"? Right. Syrians are not only cowards, they have this notion like they are entitled to something here. They want the Golan? Sure, no problem! Simply declare unconditional peace with Israel by permanently recognizing the right for the Jewish state to exist exactly where it sits, allow U.N. monitors to independently verify no weapons are being trafficked from Iran to Hezbollah in lebanon, and stay the hell out of the Palestinian cause as if it has anything to do with Syria. Can you do that Syria? If you can, we'll forget that whole thing where you tried to destroy us and then came back crying for your land back... Let's make a deal, take it or leave it... ;)

First,Israel`s existence should be recognized by Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Hizballah, Hamas, Fatah,Saudia etc... Then, and only then ,Israel should reconsider the Golan`s future by stages.. Israel`s existence depends on "Peace for land" and not on "Land for piece".

About 15% of the water plus a strategically important point for any operation. Phase it out, well not a very smart move. Why not build another wall around it as well.

The Israelis themselves I guess, read their posts! Syrian is serious about peace, and this will be great for all, mostly Israel. OPEN YOUR MINDS.

Israel will keep the Golan. Syria lost every right to the Golan in the 1967 War. Syria, what part of "Never again!" do you not understand?

The Golan till 1922 was part of Palestine. Britain gave it to the French.

entitled to one square inch of the Golan and if that is their prerequisite for peace then let them start their war now ! Syria always gets their asses kicked but good when they attack Israel. Israel has never started a war of extinction with Syria but Syria initiated such a war against Israel many times, threatening to drive Jews into the sea ! They will lose even more territory and face in any future war. They just don't know when to cut their losses and retreat. ASSad , bring it on !

Good is a matter of degree. Both sides need to be comfortable. How about Syrian stopping support for the terror groups and then Israel withdraws 1/3 and the state of enmity ends, Etc.

Syria is a regime that is based on Assad, who clearly is not all there mentally, and on top of that, they are making friends with countries that have zero chance of staying in power once oil is not as valuable. Israel is best off just dragging this out till they make a mistake like saddam did.

As soon as people stop teaching their children, and granchildren, to hate, there can be peace.

by having Syria and Israel state, in Arabic, Hebrew and English, each sides acceptance of the other's right to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Arabs of Syria and of the Jewish people respectively. Until and unless the Syrians makes such a statement, that would be based on League of Nations decisions and United Nations resolutions as well as the universally accepted right of all peoples to national self-determination and independence, including that of the Jewish people of course, there is no reason to trust the Syrians. In 1948 the Syrians invaded Israel with the full intention of annihilating it. It did so again in 1967, and again in 1973, using the Golan in all of these cases as a launching ground from which to attempt the elimination of the Jewish state, always as part of larger coalitions of armed forces. Syria is presently a major component of such a coalition, Iran-Hizballah-IslamicJihad-Hamas-Syria, that has declared in broad daylight its intention!!!

In order to get peace with Egypt Israel was required to withdraw from Sovereign Egyptian territory. What is it about peace Israel cannot tolerate? No one has anything of Israel's. The thought of a Greater Israel in today's world is an obscene obsession. No one is asking anything more than Israel adhere to it's VOLUNTARY obligations as a Declared Sovereign State and UN Member. Yet Israel's position has not changed one iota in 61 years....http://wp.me/pDB7k-l5 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1950/apr/27/jordan-and-israel-government-decision. The ignorant cawing of the crows of war is incessant. Their bottom line is always G-/od gave it to us. G-/od and they were sold out when the Jewish People's Council accepted the boundaries outlined in UNGA res 181. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/decad169.asp No more, no less.

Until the British ceded it to the French Mandate of Syria in 1923, according to the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916. Syria "owned" the Golan for a total of 44 years, then lost it in a war of aggression on their part. With the wealth of archeological evidence of Jewish residency in the Golan, it's ridiculous to claim it's part of Syria. If anyone other than Israel deserves to own the Golan, it is the Druse, not Syria.

The best answer to this nonsense of suicidal "peace for land" talks will be more Jews on the Golan. Lets move North, expand the communities and build new ones. The goal: 100000 Jews on the Golan within the next 10 years. No Israeli government could ever forfeit it.

and what's more, syria wants "security arrangements" and an assurance that israel will never attack syria or lebanon. mark, tell syria to go and fly a kyte.

What does this director do when it studies middle east even from books. I bet - this director only reads books written and published by middle eastern authors. With that rubbish of - land and honor. What about the honor of the dead jews during the wars "they" her "friends" started? They did not die for nothing !!!!. I am a chilean jew and fellow chilean jews died during these wars. The only honor these people understand is "war" and death. The Jews in case she did not know - were expelled by an European power - Romans. Now, jews have returned only because the Almighty is benevolent and due to the Patriarchs. We belong in Israel and hopefully in the next war the Syria we will recover even Damascus which is also part of Israel - have we forgotten that?.

Why should Israel give one inch of land before Syria changes there behavior? Sure lets make Israel less secure by losing high ground but Assad who is a terror supporter can keep his alliances with those terrorists. Incase the world has been asleep Israel is not run by fools or clowns. They are intelligent, realistic, and responsible men and women. Go Israel!!!!

Well,,,,,,,,,,,, it's not really your land now is it? If you give it back and you get True Peace in exchange it will be worth it. Perhaps immediate full recognition and full diplomatic relations by Syria in exchange for a gradual, step-by-step pull-out could make this a deal that can happen. To encourage the parties, perhaps the world community can throw each side some sweeteners like increased trade and tourism.

belongs - on some shelf gathering dust. It would have been more meaningful for them to do some conflict resolution between Jewish and Arab students on university campuses in the UK or between warring students in a kindergarten. Leave this topic for Israeli security personnel since it is a security matter and not an iffy approach to peace. Well, ah....ah...if you give us back the Golan, you ah...ah...may get to open an embassy...ah...ah...and ah...

Gilad, A Nice Fellow, Michael F and Emad, You are all exactly correct. Giving up all of the Golan before ceasing ties and abetting Israel's sworn enemies is unacceptable. Emad from Jordan since you are from the region I believe you when you say even if Israel withdraws totally from the Golan there will never be a Syrian embassy in Israel. Conclusion: Any intention of Syria wanting peace is a farce!

Why does such nonsense make the news? Who cares what some useless professor at Oxford thinks? Golan will never be part of Syria nor should it have ever been part of that artificial country.

Syria is in no hurry to make peace with israel. it has lost the golan for nearly 50 years but has not forgotten it. Syria can afford to wait another 50. many things may change within 50 years. Israel may unilaterally remove itself from the golan and make peace with palestinians. Another scenario shows a defiant israel unwilling to return any land for the sake of peace with all of the financial burdens it implies. Military spending will continue to spiral to a point that purhaps even the u.s congress will not be able to approve, let alone pay for. Perhaps after another decade of stalemate, several countries will decide to boycott the israeli economy altogether causing its stubborn status quo solution to become extremely costly. Meanwhile, so long as syria does not act irrationally (launch a direct assault upon israeli forces) it can concievably wait until more favorable conditions for peace arise...

he was right

An end to the endless threats of attack from Israel? The end to the endless threats of Israel attacking Lebanon and thus positioning the IDF to attack the right flank of the Syrian Army? The ability to - as Egypt did - regain the territory lost in the Six Day War? As Israel has refused any direct and open negotiations we cannot know. As there have been back-channel communications we can guess. Syria wants what Syria lost. And it wants security agreements that Israel will not attack it, or occupy Lebanon. As the current government of Israel rules out any sacrifice of territory or security agreements, there is no room for peace. This degree of total intransigence, which includes Israel refusing to invade and occupy Lebanon is beyond negotiation, then Syria has no reason to expect anything but a most gradual approach to peace.

can stop using an incorrect address and he will be a Syrian. Happy days----well not for Eitan, having to return his stolen property and move on back to whence he came. Unless he has the guts to stay and answer for all the bravado he shows under cover of this site. Gosh i wonder if the Syrian authorities are "copying and saving" his claims to Syrian land and his false recolleaction of who attacked who. Best of luck Eitan---you may need it me bucko.

can stop using an incorrect address and he will be a Syrian. Happy days----well not for Eitan, having to return his stolen property and move on back to whence he came. Unless he has the guts to stay and answer for all the bravado he shows under cover of this site. Gosh i wonder if the Syrian authorities are "copying and saving" his claims to Syrian land and his false recolleaction of who attacked who. Best of luck Eitan---you may need it me bucko.

Sounds interesting. But then again I live in Canada and do not worry about Syria firing down on me.

Go for it! It can't be worse than what exists now.

Sure.. give Syria everything, receive an embassy and THEN start discussing the issues of interest to Israel? This is not a method for conflict resolution, this is a method for appeasement, surrendering all of Israel's cards and receiving nothing in return. Even the UN resolutions the Arab world keeps throwing at Israel state a recognition of territorial integrity and end of belligerence and threat of violence is a requirement. The Syrians are not even willing to give that up in return for all the land they claim they want. While I appreciate the effort, the conclusions seem to be somewhat of a joke from any perspective that takes Israeli concerns in to account. This is not about bold steps, but about being given nothing while giving everything. Syria should not have the shoreline of the Kinneret for the simple reason that they are desperate for water, since all major Arab states (except oil rich ones) have underinvested in water requirements. They will tap it dry if given chance!

Even if the Golan was returned to its real owners, never would there be embassies between both countries.

"When asked about a change of relationship with Hamas and Hezbollah, he said that it will not negotiate any change in its relationship with Hezbollah and Hamas until after the Golan is returned." In other words, Syria wants Israel to negotiate under the threat of terrorism. Israel would have to be crazy to agree to this. Syria will have to decide if it is truly serious about peace, or if it will continue to fall further within the Iranian sphere of influence.

My grandfather, may his soul rest in peace, used to say that his grandfather told him that you should never turn your back on a Syrian. They are not to be trusted......So my advice comes from the graves of my grandfathers.......Be Careful. Be Very Careful.

Mr.Eldar; every time you run out of subject agaist israel you pick israel syria WHY?

No chance! Syria is too entrenched in relations with Iran, Hezbollah and the Pals. The Golan is Jewish land. No need to shrink Israel further. The Peace agreement would last as long as the ink takes to dry.

There must be, at a minimum, a total renunciation of all ties to all terror entities, including Iran, as part of any negotiated agreement. If the Syrians don't like the idea, that's fine. Israel will keep the Golan Heights, and the Syrians can stay on the side of mass terror. Moreover, the brutal Assad regime can start counting the hours until it is destroyed and replaced, as it will be, when it attacks Israel, either with its outdated Airforce or through its Hezbollah or Hamas puppets.

Israel must not give back one millimeter of the Golan. It is excellent topography from which to attack Israel, as Syria has demonstrated many times over the years. If the Golan is returned then two scenarios are possible: Syria will use the Golan to launch attacks on Israel, again, or Syria will allow Hezbollah, Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, etc. access to the Golan and they will attack Israel; plausible deniability for Syria, Israel will be viewed as the aggressor if Israel attacks Syria. Either way, Israel is getting attacked from the Golan. If it is a matter of honor for Syria, they should admit they lost the war, like honorable men, and accept that Syria is not as big as it used to be. Israel must not give back one millimeter of the Golan.

And will get burnt; this is what you call Damned if you do & damned if you dont when you mess with other countries minds. Syrias Pres really is in a corner and no where to turn but except the inevitable; Filure for him, his family, his People and his COUNTRY. erodigan is following a similar trail and what they may or may not realize is that the US is very IRATTIC and Iran is desperate and will take revenge sooner or later...

never has been , and never will be...