A peace crime
What more can Assad say that he hasn't already? How long must he knock in vain on Israel's locked door?
By Gideon Levy
It couldn't have been spelled out more explicitly, clearly and emphatically. Read and judge for yourselves: "Our position is clear: When Israel returns the entire Golan Heights, of course we will sign a peace agreement with it .... What's the point of peace if the embassy is surrounded by security, if there is no trade and tourism between the two countries? That's not peace. That's a permanent cease-fire agreement. This is what I say to whoever comes to us to talk about the Syrian track: We are interested in a comprehensive peace, i.e., normal relations."
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Photo by: AP |
Who said this to whom? Syrian President Bashar Assad to the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir last week. These astounding things were said to Arab, not Western ears, and they went virtually unnoticed here. Can you believe it?
What more can Assad say that he hasn't already? How many more times does he have to declare his peaceful intentions before someone wakes up here? How long must he knock in vain on Israel's locked door? And if that were not enough, he also called on Turkey to work to calm the crisis with Israel so it can mediate between Israel and Syria.
Assad's words should have been headline news last week and in the coming weeks. Anwar Sadat said less before he came to Israel. In those days we were excited by his words, today we brazenly disregard such statements. This leads to only one conclusion: Israel does not want peace with Syria. Period. It prefers the Golan over peace with one of its biggest and most dangerous enemies. It prefers real estate, bed and breakfasts, mineral water, trendy wine and a few thousand settlers over a strategic change in its status.
Just imagine what would happen if we emerged from the ruins of our international status to sign a peace agreement with Syria - how the international climate regarding us would suddenly change, how the "axis of evil" would crack and Iran's strongholds weaken, how Hezbollah would get a black eye, more than in all the Lebanon wars. And maybe even Gilad Shalit, held by the Damascus-based Hamas, would be freed. Sound too good to be true? Maybe, but Israel is not even trying. A prime minister who ignores this chance is no less than a peace criminal.
Instead of the Shalit march that has just ended, a different march should have set out this week, one more massive and determined, calling on the Israeli government, the peace refuser, to do something. Hoarse shouts should have gone up: Peace with Syria now. But this march will not go forward this week. Apparently it will never happen. Singer-songwriter Shlomo Artzi, Zubin Mehta and the respectable demonstrators who marched on behalf of one soldier will not do so to support a move that could save the lives of many soldiers and civilians. Why? Because that takes courage. Why? Because Assad was right when he told La Repubblica in Italy: "Israeli society has tilted too far to the right, and it is not capable of making peace with Syria."
True, they say the Mossad chief thinks that Assad will never make peace because the whole justification for his regime is based on hostility toward Israel. Our experts are never wrong, but similar things were said about Sadat. True, Assad also said other things. Other? Not really. He said that if he does not succeed through peace, he will try to liberate the Golan through resistance. Illogical? Illegitimate? Not a reason to try to challenge him? What do we have to lose but the chance? Even the latest fig leaf a few prime ministers have used here - the assessment that the U.S. opposes peace with Syria - is absurd. Does anyone see U.S. President Barack Obama opposing a peace move with Syria? What a pity that he is not pressing Israel to move ahead with it.
And then there is the old refrain: "Assad doesn't mean it." When Arab leaders make threats, they mean it; when they talk peace, they don't. And also: "We'll return the Golan and end up with a piece of paper and missiles." Remember how that was said about Egypt? But we persist: The prime minister is criminally missing a historic chance for peace, and we yawn apathetically. Sounds logical, right?
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These are the simple conditions needed to make peace with Syria, unfortunately Arab dictators have no interest in making peace with Israel or themselves.
Assad is a dictator. He should be replaced by a democratic government. Israel could help establish a democratic government in th Golan.
Ask when was the LAST TIME that the world agreed that you could claim territory that you siezed from a neighbouring country? Answer: None. Never. Zip. Not the Sinai. Not the Golan. Not the West Bank. Not the Gaza Strip. Not Even East Jerusalem. NOBODY has ever agreed - nor will they ever agree - that those territories can belong to you merely because you grabbed them in 1967. You simply can not acquire territory by force of arms, and it is about time you woke up to that fact. Sadat refuses to budge on that issue. Hussein refused to budge on that issue. Assad (Snr and Jnr) refused to budge on that issue, and rightly so. The Golan doesn't belong to you, and the Syrians are **never** going to agree that you can keep it. Give it up, because then at least you can drive a bargain about what you will get in return for giving it up.
There was a nation which wanted nothing more than peace with it's neighbors and the world. It craved a normal existence as a normal nation living without strife on every border. In today's Israel this healthy desire has been replaced with an unnatural craving for strife and war which is seen as both normal and necessary, but even desirable as a means of preserving the ruling coalition. Too bad the examples of Egypt and Jordan exist to show that endless war on every side is not the only course open to Israel. Bibi and Lieberman will have to do something about that as they have with Turkey. . .
If you are really interested in peace, why not implement it unilaterally? No one is stopping you, are they? Just stop the belligerence towards Israel, stop aiding Hezballah, come and speak in the Knesset, establish trading agreements with Israel, etc., etc.. Then, one day, after the friendship has grown - say 100 years from now, or more likely 1000 - Israel might just feel compelled to make a gesture of friendship towards you. Until that time, Israel only has your past record to go on - and that record sadly is shocking. So, it is incumbent upon *you* to make the effort, to build the bridges you've burnt and maybe, just maybe, you will be taken seriously again.
...is another war. And the more the left tries to appease the Arabs, the sooner there will be a war. So, all is in good: appeasement or no appeasement, Israel will have to wake up and do it all over again. Only this time, make sure you drive out all the hostile Arabs into Jordan and Egypt.
The Arabs want and offer peace. The Palestinians want and offer peace. The USA, France, Russia, the EU have tried to broker Middle East peace. All good faith effforts come to a crashing stop with Israel. Netanyahu does not want peace. His political career has distrust of the Arabs as it's foundation. The settlers fuel that distrust with their egregious behavior that sometimes causes Palestinian reaction. The majority of Israelis take comfort in a fortress mentality where there is some lurking Arab evil. They do not want to understand the root causes.
and favors stealing more land with US welfare while it claims to want peace and slanders any who tell the truth
Would Assad's peace agreement with Israel , in return fro the Golan , include divesting Syria from the Iranian -Hezbollah axis. Will they no more act as interlocutors for Iran and stop the support of terrorist groups that threaten Israel?
and it has been like this for the last 60 years or so ...
its refreshing to read you
Assad goes for this with the deck stacked. Instead of bravado, he should approach it with humility. Perhaps a trip to address the Knesset would be a start. Enough of the Arab macho attitude, his Papa made a grave mistake, first, by constantly terrorizing Israel from the Golan, second, he foolishly joined the '67 War AND LOST THE GOLAN. Be humble, Assad, you'd be shocked by the Israeli response.
come on!
"Anwar Sadat said less before he came to Israel".Yes but Sadat CAME to Israel..He said he would go to the knesset itself "and he did...Well, If Assad wants peace and the golan, let him pull a Sadat. Let him visit Israel and address the Knesset. Sadat did this and got the Sinai.
david: "Yes but Sadat CAME to Israel" This is, apparently, all that matters to a zionist i.e. the Goy must come to Israel and throw himself before The Chosen People. The same demand is often made of Obama (He went to Cairo, why won't he come to us!?!?). Zionists do seem to have such a puffed-up opinion of themselves, don't they? Assad is offering PEACE, he isn't offering marriage.
nor do I remember Israel being regularly shelled from Sinai. I wonder why Turks would want to revert their country into what Egypt was in pre - Sadat era... That is an interesting question to ponder. There are scenarios in which Egypt herself might take this backwards route... the times are really crazy these days.
i honestly believe that Assad, a British educated doctor is not too crazy. why insist him coming to Israel? As long as he is willing to recognize Israel and normalize relationship with Israel, so what if he doesnt show up in Kenessets?
The fact that President Assad said these things and Netanyahu has deigned that it is not even worthy of an answer shows that there is a complete disconnect between Israeli politicians and reality. Just what exactly does Netanyahu want to hear?
the same thing goes for the West Bank and Gaza
The Land belongs to the Jews. And the young Jews know it. What is the real value of an Arab handshake? The war is for the Land. All of it. All national borders are defined by war. It is History's way.
That's perfectly true, especially for people who appear to be stuck in the Bronze Age. The problem is that sooner or later a stronger army comes along and takes it all away. You were thrown out before, and it will happen again, unless you smarten up and catch up with the second half of the 20th century
That's perfectly true, especially for people who appear to be stuck in the Bronze Age. The problem is that sooner or later a stronger army comes along and takes it all away. You were thrown out before, and it will happen again, unless you smarten up and catch up with the second half of the 20th century
All of the land belongs to Israel. BUILD BABY BUILD!
It is truly comical.
...because he could have peace today without the real estate. But it doesn't bother you when Arabs care about real estate only when Jews do it.
so what kind of peace can he provide. He's armed Hezbollah to the teeth, and they are now stronger than he is. He no longer has the means to provide peace.
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.
Papa Assad (d. 2000) had already decided on peace and was about to consummate when Barak chickened out (in Shepherdstown) for fear of Israeli public opinion. What Papa did is acceptable to the Son. Now, in Israel, Military Intelligence is the body that does the analysis, based on data collected by all
Israel has proven time and time again that every time it strategically weakens itself by giving away land for peace, it encourages its enemies. The sad fact is that the abandonments of South Lebanon, Gaza and Sinai each brought a weakening of Israel.
The withdrawal from Gaza surely brought a weakening of Israel,the withdrawal from S.Lebanon was somehow different.But the withdrawal from the Sinai brought peace and normal relations with Egypt.Yes,these are fragile relations but that's better than nothing,plus Israel has the advantage of not appearing as the "bad guy" if Egypt somehow breaches this peace.
Maybe Assad, Nassralla, Ahmidinijad and their friends are ok, quite frankly I do not know these guys from a bar of soap. Do we want to be friends with them? True peace with the peoples to the north and east is worth a fortune. Are Assad and friends a bunch of gangsters or not??
what about gangsters sitting in telavive?
Thanks Mr. Levy for another good article
...to extreme error), it seems to me that most of the "sturm und drang" (a.k.a. "emotional turmoil") arises from Israel's failure to definitively decide (and then proceed on that basis) whether to go through Door 1 (Eretz Israel) or Door 2 (something less). Decide that, folks, and then--for better or worse--this show can finally "get on the road." (Of course, as they say, "that first step can be a killer!")
It may help convince those who say "I might believe Assad according to Assad - but Assad according to Gidon Levi , no ,,,,
He is an evil manipulator with bloody hands. Like father,like son.Killing his people at Hama is the example that Gideon never mentions. To belive Assad and accept his views,is like puttingyour head in the LIONS mouth ,praying you'll not be SWALLOWED .Evil to the core.Sorry Gideon no one wouldbe convinced by what this man says. Do you remember him calling his Arab brothers WOMEN during the 2nd Lebanon war? While he wass ensconced in HIS BUNKER LIKE HASSAN THE HIZB?.
Imagine a scenario where Israel has achieved peace with all neighbors - tourism, trade, diplomacy. Now what? Arab tourists will visit Israel and Jerusalem by the thousands (even millions), all kinds of Arab products and services will become available in Israel, IDF will have to coordinate with Arab armies, .... does that look like a "proper" jewish Israel??!!
No,no,No...absolutelly Not ,but a NIGHTMARE in the making.
Is Avram implying that a "proper" jewish Israel is an isolated, segregated, hostile jewish Israel rather than a generous, peaceful, less paranoid 21st century state?
getting rid of any semblance of arabness is more important than security.
According to Avram and Stephen Israel is supposed to be what the Zionists wanted to get away from in Europe: a Jewish ghetto, surrounded by enemies
and all kinds of Israeli products and services will become available in the Arab world.How comes that you forgot that?
Would Assad give real peace for the return of the Golan? Yes he would. Would he stop support of Hizbollah? Yes he would. Would he stop giving a home to "terrorists". Yes he would. How can we be sure that he would do this? Israel has the capability to enforce the peace and remove Assad from this earth if he did not take every action which was promised. Why then would Israel not agree to such a peace? Israel is in the position of taking Arab land, not returning it. As long as Israel enjoys unlimited American political, financial and military support they feel that they can force Assad to grant their wishes rather than having to trade land for them. Every facet of Israels actions and policies lead back to America. This includes heavy Jewish "influence" on the American congress and a series of weak American presidents who know that if they take on Israel, they will be taking on congress as well. It is much easier for Israel to demonize Syria, Hizbollah, Hamas, Iran, etc. This gives Israel the latitude to take hostile action against them and eliminates the possibility of making any concessions.
You just can't continue/afford to live like that.
Why are "terrorists" in quotation marks?? Are you implying that they're not terrorists. They most certainly are, Durson. It would be the same as calling you a "genius". Not.
You are right Nattalie if you can 100% believe any Islamic country. The promise of "peace" is not enough. Let Syria renounce Hezbollah and declare Israel an ally. Let Syria provide detailed information about the weapons they posess and who supplied them. Let Assad say in public that he stands with Israel over Iran and then Israel can turn over the Golan.
"Israel has the capability to enforce the peace and remove Assad from this earth if he did not take every action which was promised" What nonsense. How would they do this? If Assad continued to supply weapons to Hezbollah after the Golan is returned, what could israel do - nothing.
"Israel has the capability to enforce the peace and remove Assad from this earth if he did not take every action which was promised" This is the same Israel that couldn't deal with Hezbollah or Hamas, but they could remove Assad from power if he changes his country's policy.
Are all of you so stupid to buy into this Washington and EU crap of make peace, make peace, stupid they are not interested, they attack and attack and we keep giving, and they keep taking in this case Israel is smart, for every pint of blood Israel takes more land this is the way it should work, they keep killing, we need more land for payment, where is the problem without peace, fair deal, at this rate the jews in 300 years will own the middle east, or flaten it, which ever the muslims would like first?
The current form of Israel, a "fighting nation" - requires constant threat. Peace would bring an end to the rationale for intimate military ties with US and every missile transferred to IDF will come under intense scrutiny by neighbors. Would the IDF like that?? Israel has become exactly like all the US-sponsored, military-centric nations of Middle East, albeit with a "democratic" front end.
Loved the " " for democracy :)
Assad junior and his late father assad sinior are well known antisemites. A policy of appeasment will just encourages these people. will gideon likes to leave with syrian troops overlooking the whole of galile. What we need is mutual respect and secured defenceable.
What is extremely disturbing here is that, consequently, Israel is ready to pay with the life of our children and granchildren for the Golan. Again our kids are taken for granted as the cost for the land. And the loss of their young lives, future and dreams would be part of a calculated risk that does not concern the decision makers, since there kids will not be endangered, that's for sure. They will then participate in all the beautiful ceremonies in honor of the fallen and state that they sacrificed themselves to "defend", not occupied lands, but their country. And we will all feel so proud. And victims. Again...
before israel occupied golan, etc. the arabs wanted to destroy the jews and this has not changed. Look at the anti semitism of egypt and jordan, the "peace partners" for how it would really be. A jew cannot even own land in jordan. The only difference between the past and the future for the jew is that he can defend himself and take the others down with him. the other has not changed
Mr Levi is such a devoted partisan of Israel's surrender ; "real estate"/ and what exactly Mr. Assad is looking for ? The idea that irrespective of repeated agression and endless hostilities Arab rulers are immune from paying territoreal prices is unacceptable. If Mr Levi is genuinly interested in chalenging the concept that losing in a war of aggression results in loss of land, let him address the former relevant URSS members and Poland and convince them that return of historical German land is the moral issue on the agenda. Ah," Mother Russia is a different story" ?
The whole treaty revolves around 'WATER PRIVILEGES" Israel refuses to let Syria get close to the Sea of Galilee for whatever reason. Syria steadfastly refuses to specify its plans for it's "own" side of the water. Israel refuses to give control over its only major water source. Rather than go independent with whatever plan (no matter how costly) Israel cannot free itself of the Galilee And that's the ONLY unresolved issue,
Because not just Kinneret or asy ou called it Sea of Galilee it is locatedin Israel proper or do you read maps? Another educational paragraph in history would benefit your gullibility further Golan heights were included in the territory governed by the League of Nations' Palestine Mandate given to the British in July 1922,. The condition was that the Brits will not transfer any part of the Mandate to any other power. In flagrant violation, the Brits exchanged the Golan Heights for Mosul ( Frendch Mandate). When the French established Syria, Golan Heights fell under Damascus' rule. Syria received stolen property. Let them demand Mosul.
Israel is bankrupt and should go into receivership, we need new management. The prime minister, a former officer, the defense minister a former officer, the chief of staff, an officer, have all been in charge of the largest PR failure in the history of the state of Israel. For the 3 of them to fail so miserably in the flotilla affair means they should resign and let professionals take over. Professionals do not fail this way, professionals are supposed to be equipped to see further into the future then the length of dropping a few commandos onto a ship. The prime minister is our top PR expert, he failed - he should go, The defense minister is our top military special operations expert, he failed - he should go, The chief of staff is supposed to know what he is doing, he did not - he should go. This management is a “lemon”, it does not work, It is the time for good management, time for leadership that puts Israel first, Israel and it’s its neighbors, Israel and its friends around the world.
my oh my, are your blinders on. OUr current leaders are trying to bring back to Israel some self respect and self-preservation which the leftists were destroying. With all their capitulation for more than 10 years, the arab cut throats offered nothing in return but more blood and destruction. I suppose you pretend to avoid the real issues and want to pretend there are peace partners out there. Your philosophy is so skewed, you think your leftist dolls will make Israel win a popularity contest as the country is being torn apart. Is there another word for suicide. get real!
I don't think so it gloriously took out 9 paid terrorists. That to me is success.
Until we put President Bashar to the test, unless it is show publicly that he is just running a propaganda scam, there is no sense in saying black every time he says white, and then the reverse. Who do you think will be convinced by such childish responses as those by some of the previous readers?
you cheat your readers who do not know the background of the issue between Israel and Syria so Im going to fill in the gaps you avoided in publishing for whatever reasons you may have Gideon In the hands of a friendly neighbor, the escarpment has little military importance. If controlled by a hostile country, however, the Golan has the potential to again become a strategic nightmare for Israel. From 1948-67, when Syria controlled the Golan Heights, it used the area as a military stronghold from which its troops randomly sniped at Israeli civilians in the Huleh Valley below, forcing children living on kibbutzim to sleep in bomb shelters. In addition, many roads in northern Israel could be crossed only after probing by mine-detection vehicles. In late 1966, a youth was blown to pieces by a mine while playing football near the Lebanon border. In some cases, attacks were carried out by Arafat's fatah, which Syria allowed to operate from its territory. Israel's options for countering the Syrian attacks were constrained by the geography of the Heights. Israel repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, protested the Syrian bombardments to the UN Mixed Armistice Commission, which was charged with policing the cease-fire. After the six day war began, the Syrian air force attempted to bomb oil refineries in Haifa. While Israel was fighting in the Sinai and West Bank, Syrian artillery bombarded Israeli forces in the eastern Galilee, and armored units fired on villages in the Huleh Valley below the Golan Heights. On June 9, 1967, Israel moved against Syrian forces on the Golan. By late afternoon, June 10, Israel was in complete control of the plateau. Israel's seizure of the strategic heights occurred only after 19 years of provocation from Syria, and after unsuccessful efforts to get the international community to act against the aggressors. In the meantime, substantial opposition exists within Israel to withdrawing from the Golan Heights. The expectation of many is that public opinion will shift if and when the Syrians sign an agreement and take measures, such as reigning in Hezbollah attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon, that demonstrate a genuine interest in peace.
u radical right of isreal is blinded by previous victories in wars dont u think things can change can u correctly read recent pages of history ,or do u have to give up the golan with blood there is no way for u to stay in this part of the world till u ceasse to be a bully
If you believe Assad every bloody word he says I have a very large bridge to sell you and can deliver the next day .. Pronto and as far as being a rude poster try a bit of politeness Mikey
leftist bullying and have yet to develop a mind that thinks with the employment of facts. The wars you speak of were wars initiated by our enemies. We have a right to defend our selves and make peace with true peacemakers, not adversaries. Tell me what words you don't understand and will will try to use single syllable words.
Unilateral annexation of territory is illegal, full stop. Israel would need the written consent of Syria, and the Syrians will never, ever, ever grant you that concession. That is a fact, and it is time that Israelis woke up to it. All of your "facts" mean nothing, because they amount to an argument why Israel *should* have the Golan. That's Your Tough Luck, because nobody - and I mean NOBODY, not even the USA - will ever agree with your claim that "I need it, I want it, so I should be allowed to have it".
"Israel repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, protested the Syrian bombardments to the UN" Israel uses UN Resolutions as toilet paper. Israel seeking help for justice from the UN is like a convicted killer asking the cops to wipe the blood off his shoes
It was rightfully taken from you, people who have had no rights to it in the first place. Israel will never hand it over! Try anything and instead of a six day war, it will be a 6 hour one! Go home and stay there Syria, God is against anyone that does not know Him, His Son Jesus Christ as Savor! Gods word promised that without Jesus Christ there will never be peace. Jesus said I come not to bring peace but division. Love, Amedeo
"It was rightfully taken from you, people who have had no rights to it in the first place." You can not "rightfully" acquire territory by war, and the Golan was NEVER included in the Mandate for Palestine.
Israel has nothing to prove as far as sacrfices made for peace. What other country has given up so much real estate for peace (SInai, Gaza, parts of the West Bank)? Assad is not interested in peace. Giving up the Golan would be suicide.
Thats basically like saying a thief you returns stuff that never belonged to him in the first place, and then claiming he is infact generous. Israel has no right to any of that land/ Everything they gave up,. they were supposed to give it, because by International law, it belongws to Palestinians, NOT ISRAEL.
Israel should let Assad know that it is ready to trade land for peace . Syria must agree to cede The Golan to Israel in return for Israel signing a peace treaty. Gideon for your information, The Golan was supposed to be under the British Mandate of Palestine before it was given to Syria, so my suggestion is more than fair and balanced
All of Palestine , if you read Balfour's memoirs, rotate on how Palestine itself was supposed to be under the French, and how he had to rush his government to nab it from the French... so you take Golan Heights, we will take back original Palestine!
It contains this gem: "to entrust to a Mandatory selected by the said Powers the administration of the territory of Palestine, which formerly belonged to the Turkish Empire, within such boundaries as may be fixed by them;" As. May. Be. Fixed. By Them. Which they did, in 1923: the region around The Dan was "in Palestine", and the region known as the Golan was "in Syria", and **until** that decision had been made they were "in limbo". Your claim is a nonsense.
IF Asad wants peace, what is the point of arming Hezbolla to the point of absurdity? How will he disarm Hezbolla? All those questions need to be ansered before any negotiations can start. It is not about Israel and Syria any longer stupid.
You ask "How will he disarm Hezbolla? " Maybe he will do it the same way Israel plans to dismantle the settlements in the WB
If Obama wants peace, what is the point of arming Israel to the point of absurdity? How will he disarm Israel?
unlike his father, he is serious about the peace. Of course he also tries to defend the interests of his country which seem conflicting with the interests of extreme right-leaned government of Israel. That s why he is still badboy in Israel.
You think the babies killed in Israeli buses, pizzerias or markets were "extreme right-wing" babies? Bashar has learned that he can have the cake and eat it at the same time. He is pampered both by Iran and the USA, has Turkish and Jordanian friendship, is received in the Arab League and the Muslim Conference, all the while it builds nuclear reactor, arms Hezballah, kills Lebanese MP's and president, tortures and jails anybody inside Syria, while it hosts the most murderous islamofacsits in Damascus, as "guests" forever, like Khaled Meshaal. If he wants peace with Israel, it's easy: stop feeding and arming the Iranian proxies bent on destroying Israel, brake up with Ahmadinejad's regime, and show with deeds what his lips say.
This very clear and courageous statement by the syrian president went virtually unnoticed in israel ,simply because the israeli leaders are only interested in an imposed peace of their own on their arab neighbours. The arab young generation has reached to the conclusion "" Only our strength and unity based upon development in all fields of science and technology can bring israel to its real size and value in our region of the world".
the only expertise the arab countries offer are brainwashing, scapegoating, deceit. It is a sad reflection on a culture that for the last 50 years spurns intelligience and promotes terrorism. They hate each other and the only thing that cements their idiocy is their hatred of Jews, Israel and democracies. Take out the equation of oil, and your enlightened countries would become the human zoos of the world, a pitiful lot of tribesmen who keep consuming themselves for survival. about 1,000 years behind the rest of the human race. Your science and technology are barbarism and your people have no hope.
Jewish owned real estate and water.
He's said it at least once before, well over a year and half ago. Also, during the time mediated negotiations were ongoing, he's also advised both Hezbollah and Hamas, at different times, to pursue an agreement of peace with Israel. None of these instances were paid much attention to in the Israeli or any other media, although if I recall correctly, they were mentioned by Haaretz but not as a specific subject of the news stories in which they were included. And it's really to bad Israel steadfastly refuses to consider peace with Syria, because the potential exists there, for the blossoming of a strong and mutually beneficial friendship between peoples - as his view projects - and not just between governments as is the case with Egypt. He's been very specific about that in that past...without actually naming Egypt. He wants something more tangible - more comprehensive - than a piece of paper.
as far as real estate goes, Mr. Levy, please move your lips in synch "Gush Katiff" - "Gush Katiff" - "Gush Katiff" - "Gush Katiff" That black hole of a fountain of intelligence only keeps growing, wider and bigger... and there is no end in sight.
Don't you mean "moron"?