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"Syrian minister confirms: Olmert expressed willingness to cede Golan"
by korzac | April 23, 2008 at 05:42 pm | 316 views | 8 comments
by korzac
Is returning the Golan Heights to Syria a real issue or will it end in false expectations
Official confirmation from Syria: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told Turkey that Israel is willing to cede the Golan Heights in return for peace with Damascus, a Syrian cabinet minister confirmed Wednesday.
"Olmert is ready for peace with Syria on the grounds of international conditions; on the grounds of the return of the Golan Heights in full to Syria," Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shaaban told al-Jazeera television.
Earlier, Damascus-based website Shams Press was joined by a report in Syrian newspaper al-Watan, which claimed that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Syrian President Bashar Assad on Tuesday and informed him of Olmert's willingness to fully withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace agreement.
Meanwhile it immediately stirs up the Israeli political arena.
Knesset Member Effie Eitam of the National Union-NRP, said Olmert is sacrificing Israel's safety in a "desperate attempt to show his constituents some sort of a political achievement… He is willing to give up the one strategic asset which has kept the northern border quiet for the past 40 years."
The people, he added, "will not let him or anyone give the Golan Heights back to the Syrians."
Former Meretz Chairman MK Yossi Beilin, however, urged the prime minister to hold intensive and swift negotiations with the Syrians, saying "peace with Syria is a key part of regional peace and will lead to the implementation of the Arab peace initiative and to a dramatic change in Syria's relationship with the extreme elements in the region."
Time will say..
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April 23, 2008 at 05:42 pm by korzac, 316 views, 8 comments
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Comments (8)
at 17:47 on April 23rd, 2008
korzac, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 01:43 on April 24th, 2008
amyjudd, thanks for the GS.
at 20:26 on April 23rd, 2008
If you believe that I've got a nice quiet house in the Golan you might be interested in purchasing and if that little fixer-upper isn't suitable I've got some great oceanfront parcels in Atlantis!
We've heard this before. It's an old game with these guys. You make statements like this but never ever deliver. Take a look over the last 40 years. When has Tel Aviv ever delivered on statements like this?
at 01:31 on April 24th, 2008
Moonwolf you made a good point but for the wrong reasons. With our Syrian neighbours we have to be careful. Returning the Golan Heights for peace, means, not returning to the events before 1968 when Syria ruled there and shelled and fired on almost any kibbutz from the Cineret lake northward, including mine. (Myself being almost killed twice). So a good thumb rule is make peace but carefully.
at 09:13 on April 24th, 2008
Don't be naive, seedplanter, we all know what the Palestinians want. And Israel has made peace offerings many times before and been rewarded with rockets and bombs and suiciders.
It would be nice... but... isn't the golan Heights like a 'buffer zone' for Israel?
at 10:02 on April 24th, 2008
Yeah, but haven't the Palestinians said over and over that they want Israel wiped off the map?
at 16:21 on April 24th, 2008
Rene, the situation between Israel the Hamas, the Hezbollah, Syria and Iran is so explosive that everyone has to be cautious about what he says.I hope that uncontrolled words will not deteriorate into uncontrolled deeds.
Thanks for the comments.
at 17:17 on April 24th, 2008
Korzac, I realize that. And despite bad press for Israel, I also know Israel has consistently tried and made good faith efforts only to have it thrown back in ther faces, explosively. Like the saying goes: "No good deed goes unpunished."
If only... Well, I will say to all sides: "Peace on You!"