Syrian officials threatened on Saturday to take back the Golan Heights by force if a peace agreement involving the return of the strategic plateau is not reached with Israel, Army Radio reported.Remember back a few months ago it was revealed:
A group calling itself the Syrian Committee for the Freedom of the Golan said it would take steps to regain control of the territory, adding that Israel has not shown willingness to achieve peace or to return what they called "Syrian land."
The comments were made at the inauguration ceremony, attended by Syrian President Bashar Assad, for a new communications center in Quneitra.
"The communications center will report on the troubles of Syrian residents residing in the occupied Golan under barbaric and racist Israeli rule," Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal was quoted as saying at the ceremony, in a reference to Druze in the Golan who wish to live under Syrian sovereignty.
Last Sunday, Assad rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to resume peace talks between the two countries from "point zero."
Assad said the negotiations should resume from the point at which they stopped under former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, when the two sides had planned to formulate mutual commitments that would enable the talks to move to a direct negotiations stage.
The indirect negotiations stopped some six months ago, following Operation Cast Lead, and the announcement of early elections in Israel.
Israel gained control of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War. Syria insists that the basis for peace talks with Israel is a full withdrawal from the territory.
Risking violation of the Logan Act prior to his election,
Obama began discreet talks with Syria and Iran
Within the last few days, it was reported Obama sending ambassador to Syria after years.
And, it would seem, Syria is acting as a proxy for Iran, stirring up trouble to deflect attention away from the Mullah's thuggery.
George Bush declared Syria to be a nation which openly harbored and funded terrorists. Indeed, Syria does help fund Hizbollah. And, the UN believed Syria was complicit in the murder of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
- This is the nation Obama wants to befriend.
- Obama is taking the steps at exactly the time that enables Iran cover.
- And Syria, also, is taking these steps at exactly the time that enables Iran cover.
Is it possible they are working in concert?
Any "negotiated settlement" in the Middle East will revolve around security for Israel and limiting the Palestinians. Syria knows it is full of hot air. You are probably correct that Syria is trying to deflect attention from Iran.
ReplyDeletehttp://hallofrecord.blogspot.com/2009/06/creating-palestine.html
I wrote this to Rep. McCotter [in a nearby district] about his take on the violence in Iran:
I refer you to my post of June 15.
http://hallofrecord.blogspot.com/2009/06/iran-elections-and-negotiating-are-same.html
Hi Bruce, I can't imagine in which it would ever be wise for Israel to give up the Golan Heights.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I can't imagine what kind of catastrophe would have to take place before the world would consider moving Gazans to the West Bank, and ceding Gaza to Israel. I think that's a good idea, but it certainly wouldn't be on the map right now, would it?
:)
In any negotiation, the perception of win-win or okay-okay is required for settlement. Otherwise, the negotiation is doomed for immediate or near-term failure and conflict.
ReplyDeleteGaza is untenable as part of a "greater Palestine". The Golan Heights could be split depending on how much of the "buffer" Israel deemed critical.
Remember, boundaries have changed constantly in most of Europe, Asia, and Africa, so why should present-day Israel be set in stone? Giving up some of the Golan Heights in return for Gaza might make sense. Egypt would probably be agreeable after some posturing and Syria could declare itself a winner.
As to WILL it happen. That's not predictable. Nothing in the Middle East is predictable except conflict.
HEY BRUCE, WHY NOT HAVE THE USA GIVE BACK TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA WHLE YOU'RE AT IT!?!?
ReplyDeleteFOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.
MAYBE THE USA SHOULD SELL IT NOW BEFORE THEY TAKE IT BY FORCE OR BY RECOLONIZATION.
MAYBE CALIFORNIA SHOULD SELL ITSELF TO PAY OFF ITS DEBT!!
Already in progress. California has already melded its fiscal and ethnic makeup with Mexico. Texas... maybe independence before they annex Mexico.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's just wild speculation. The U.S. has changed a lot since 1776 so why not Israel since 1948?
Besides, getting the Palestinians in one place makes a better target if they start screwing around again.
Yeah, I don't get the sense Bruce is so much anti-Israel as he is just really pro-realpolitik.
ReplyDeleteBruce, I've never been to Israel and I am not Jewish, but from everything I have read, the Golan Heights is just not a negotiable thing as long as Syria is ruled by Islam and as long as Hizbollah is a force in Lebanon. I don't expect those things to change anytime in the near future. But, what do I know?
I do think Texas ought to annex Mexico. You should read Erik Rush's book on Annexing Mexico. It is great.
bruce - youy are right: borders do change over time:
ReplyDeleteTHE WINNERS OF WARS KEEP THE LAND THEY WON.
oh. sorry.
except for israel.