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Syria conflicted over war, peace
Roee Nahmias
Published: 31.07.07, 23:28
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25 Talkbacks for this article
1. Syria, Israel, just do us a favor
Tracy W   (07.31.07)
Don't call them PEACE talks. It's obvious to everyone on both sides that these talks are being demanded under Syrian THREAT. What's peaceful about that? The Syrians are determined to take the Golan - What's there to talk about? Just to negotiate the date and time of surrender?
2. Offer him an audience at the technion
andrew ,   miami,fl   (08.01.07)
make the meeting about mutually beneficial technology - and what lay ahead for the next 100 years
3. Assad - A Machiavelian, Duplicitous Creep
Bill Foonman ,   Jacksonville, USA   (08.01.07)
Simply put, Israel would be very wise not to trust this man - period. He has no honor - even for a politician. No matter what he says or agrees to Assad cannot be trusted. He will lie through his teeth and play both sides to get whatever he wants (not that the other Arab leaders are any better). He makes Yasser Arafat's deceitful scheming look positively angelic.
4. The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 17 that Damascus...
Rivkah   (08.01.07)
will cease to be a city and will be a heap of stones. I see the govenment of Syria believes that and has moved out of Damascus, expecting an attack. If only Mr. Assad would read the King James Version Bible chapter 17 that tells of the long delayed judgment of Damascus and try to spare the city by leaving Israel alone. Change the Koran verse that says Jews will never prosper in Israel and then the cultures can live together more peacefully, perhaps. The ancient land of Assyria (Syria) repented long ago in Ninevah. The destruction of Ninevah was delayed for 40 years because of the repentence. Mr. Assad should beg Hashem for a forty year delay of what may be coming within a year if Israel is attacked. With 140,000 Turkish troops on the Iraq border and Iranian pilots bombing American soldiers in Iran, the war is very close. The war will be very destructive for America and Iran and Damascus and Russia and all the armies that go against Israel. THIS IS NOT ARMAGEDDON. That war comes later.
5. Assad
Nemesis   (08.01.07)
This guy is a complete wimp..totally out of his class,even confronting Olmert...He wants peace,but also wants the Golan,which he knows he won't get..he's just hot air,trying to hang on to his tenuous position..a real phony.
6. #4 Rikvah
Nemesis   (08.01.07)
Do you actually believe that nonsense? Do you actually believe that Assad will read the King James Bible? Do you actually believe they will change the Koran? Puleeeese,wake up.
7. They're not conflicted. They hold talks but sabotage them
Me   (08.01.07)
8. #4 I see youv'e been watching Hal Lindsay again hey?
(08.01.07)
9. it is very clear now....
lama ,   lebanon   (08.01.07)
the assad (lion) is preparing his army for the war! wow assad!
10. geopolitical weight
t.i ,   Israel   (08.01.07)
The president of syria is playing on two weddings simoultunsely, at sunday: I want to negotiate for peace process, at monday: I am continue smmugeling weapon into Lebanon, so everybody in the west and in Israel wondering why is all this occuring?, so I have the answer: as long as the stae of Syria will be isolated state, Syria will keep support on terrorism, if the international community wants to engage Damascus, it's embracing with incentives to the state of Syria. Syria is key state for stabalizing the middle east, Usa did not take into account the meaning of the geopolitical power of the state of Syria before the war in Iraq, we did the same mistake in 1982.
11. mr muallem
(08.01.07)
very ijnteresting that you should complain about ther americans giving israel billions of dollars and armaments recently. after all, what are you complaining about when you and iran got millions of dollars in fighter jets and russian military equipment recently from your buddy putin. it's a two way road mr muallem. we'll always have the military edge over the syrians no matter what. tough! the golan will never be yours. it is israeli land by the way....all the way up to damascus, land that was bought by baron rothchild legally from arab absent landowners with the mandate giving the jewish people this land according to the league of nation resolution prior to 1948. they lied and short changed us pretty badly and gave you a country as well as gave our land to the hashemite kingdom. a historical fact. arab puppet countries were created on our jewish home land to satisfy you arabs who continue to threaten and choke the world because of our dependence on your oil. if you didn't have oil, no one would even look your way. you'd be zeros because you never gave anything to civilization except terrorism. not one iota of knowledge or innovation. not a single one.
12. Syrians you need to start your own Hezbollah-like resistance
Getting Results ,   Fight no talks   (08.01.07)
and to do what Lebanese have been doing. Lebanese kicked Israel out of their country. Resistance and "terror" are the only language that Israel understands.
13. #9 don't be such a warmonger
Logic ,   Israel   (08.01.07)
You don't understand Israelis. Left or right wing - it doesn't matter. If your "lion" dares to attack, everyone here will be in support of smashing his "country" to pieces with an iron fist.
14. re: #9
woww ,   LA, USA   (08.01.07)
Assad might be a lion (for those whom do not speak arabic that's what it means) but he is human (Bashar, means human) as well :D You got to give it to his parents, lol. Again a speach to the army, does not mean he wants to attack, but that he has to show strenght. There is a lot to negotiate what would he give in return of the sovereignity over the Golan. For example, could the citizens of Israel still own their property (he did change the law a few years ago) and historically it was purchased for them. etc.
15. Conditions for Peace
Jack ,   Los Angeles, USA   (08.01.07)
Israel should only start negotiatiing with Syria on the following conditions: 1. Syria says the return of the Golan is not necessary for peace. 2. The return of all missing IDF soldiers
16. Assad is a confused character
Daniel ,   Israel   (08.01.07)
Assad is a confused character. He is like a street dog; wag his tail who ever give him a piece of bread. I do not know how Syrians tolerate him? And how he gets elected every time? (This is actually an open secret). Any way not my problem; he is not direct danger to Israel; he is direct danger to Syrians themselves. He is not as strong as poses; with one more conflict and he will be silent.....)
17. Assad should remember how Turkey dealt with Syrian terrorism
Ken Jurist   (08.01.07)
Everyone on here is missing the most important point. Almost two years ago, a historic event happened that was not noticed by the Arab world. The Syrian regime recognized for the first time, that Alexandretta (Hatay) is sovereign Turkish territory. This after dozens of years where Syria strongly demanded Turkish withdrawal from this area. For dozens of years, Turkey was unwilling to discuss any kind of compromise in Alexandretta. It never expressed a willingness to cede Alexandretta in exchange for peace. It never negotiated a withdrawal from Alexandretta. Its attitude was clear and simple. Alexandretta is ours period. Assad Sr and Jr was scared to death of going to war with Turkey. If Beilin, Sarid, Liel and Peres led Turkey, they would have given up Alexandretta. Turkey showed the way to peace is peace for peace. This is why Israel must let the Kahane's rule there.
18. Syria don't want, can't make and won't maintain real peace.
Uzi ,   Haifa   (08.01.07)
They do want, however, to break their international isolation, continue to dominate Lebanon and regain the Golan without 'giving' anything tangible, least of all real peace. In this case 'land for peace' is both immoral and unworkable. Syria had used the Golan to threaten, pester and attack Israel before we took it in self defence. It would be idiotic to concede anything in response to Syria's war threats. The more serious the threat the more Israel need the Golan for our security. To demostrate that they really want peace, Syria must offer, accept and be content with a 'painful' territorial compromise.
19. Context, Context ... Anniversary of Army’s establishment
Mike ,   Ca   (08.01.07)
The same letter has been published in the 2 Syrian newspapers ever since 1967 on every army Anniversary day. They only change the date on the top and they managed to use MS word to ‘find and replace’ Hafez’s name with Bashar’s. Oh yes and the Photo.
20. There is no mixed message.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.01.07)
But you can bet your life that Assad is more afraid of the Iranians than he is of us. Being a liar & treacherous mamzer himself, he knows the Iranians are just using him, that they are infiltrating his own gov't & creating their own power base within Syria. But he doesn't know how to escape their warm embrace. I'm sure Ahmadinejad with the help of Nasrallah & Meshal read him the riot act when they met. But his failure in Lebanon, his clumsy assassination of Hariri, his failing economy, have in actuality made him even more dependant on his "allies". At the same time, he certainly realizes that even if he gets back the Golan, it will only be a temporary respite - Iran will force him into being part of the "front-line" against us by using the Golan as a military asset. His own regime's weakness makes him dangerous but nothing we can do, including ceding the Golan, can prop up this loser. There is no mixed message - the script is dictated in Teheran.
21. to #4: Thanks God I am an athiest.
Asem ,   Middle East   (08.01.07)
Religious people (from all religions) like destruction, and Armageddon. Sorry but I like the Bruce Willice movie better than your story.
22. victory
salahdin ,   joburg south africa   (08.01.07)
if god will give us victory by our prays not israeli nor american weapon or man will effect us we not scared we wont hide like u
23. #21 & #4
Lenny ,   USA   (08.01.07)
Number 4 has it exactly right. I'm glad I'm not religious just walking in faith. Bruce in Hollywood did a movie called Armageddon but wrong Armageddon. In all actuality A'geddon will last just a few seconds. Number 21, what say you if Isaiah 17 happens in the next few months? GET your fire insurance while its cheap (free) He's called Yeshua.
24. re: 19 & 20
woww ,   LA, USA   (08.01.07)
Mike: Right on the dot. I bet some of the older officers could recite it by heart. :D Terry: Of course he's afraid of Iran, with a good reason. On the other hand he has to boost his standing with the people, achiving peace on his terms (getting the Golan at least on paper back) might just do the trick. The real achivement would be establishing commercial ties with Israel and through us with the rest of the world. One of the major problems of Syria is a lack of commercial seaport (also a reasons trying to keep a hold on Lebanon) But he has to know for sure he will be protected against Iran without turning into another Iraq. IMHO it should be a priority for Israel as well, the last thing wee need is all the terrorist fractions running free and uncontrolled on the northern border. At least Assad keeps them on a leash.
25. Giving Golan back?.....
Zuri ,   Sydney Australia   (08.02.07)
I israel ever negotiate with Syria over Golan return, it would spell disaster to the security to the state of Israel. I do not know what exactly it say in the bible but you might be right Damascus might have to be rebuild .....from scratch.
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