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Syria to issue ID cards to Golan Heights Druze
Roee Nahmias
Published: 24.10.07, 08:23
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11 Talkbacks for this article
1. Golan was part of Palestine till 1922
Semsem ,   New York, USA   (10.24.07)
The British handed over the Golan Heights to France in 1922. It was part of Palestine. France then made it part of Syria. The Syrian claims are a grey area.
2. Maybe Druse Would Like A State.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (10.24.07)
Maybe the Golan (including the Syrian part) & part of Lebanon could form an autonomous Druse region with local self-rule? Would the Syrians be willing to hold a referendum on such an idea? At the same time, would Syria like to cede Kurdish areas to the Kurdish state in N. Iraq? They certainly deserve to be joined with their brother Kurds in an independant Kurdistan. By the way, Druse are not a "Muslim sect" - they are an off-shoot of Islam but are a completely different religion in the same way as Bahai or even Christianity's relation to Judaism. If any Druse are reading, I'd be curious to hear your opinions on an autonomous Druse region.
3. Send them back to Syria
(10.24.07)
4. 2 reasons that this is very good news...
Roscio ,   Rome, Italy   (10.24.07)
1. This is a major boost for the brilliant proposal by Benny Elon: to annex the lands won in defensive wars, according to international law, and give the Arabs who live there citizenship in their TRUE countries of Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. Many nay-sayers have said that the Arab leaders would not go for this plan - yet here we have Assad proposing the exact same thing! This will allow Hussein of Jordan to propose Jordanian citizenship for the Arabs in Judea and Samaria, which will finally spell the end to the horrible UNRWA, an artificial "refugee" org with its sole objective of keeping the Arabs there and in Gaza trapped in poverty and desperation as political pawns. 2. When many Druze turn down Assad's offer to become subjects of his dictatorship, it will be a major black eye to him. Still, the offer itself and those Druze that accept it are a huge step forward for the Elon Proposal, a sensible way out of the tangled peace problem for Israel.
5. When will the Lebanese get their Syria cards?
Hama Hama Hama   (10.24.07)
6. When will Mr Carter/Tutu/Livingston get Syrian ID cards?
KMR ,   Middle East   (10.24.07)
7. #5 Hama Hama Hama - Don't be silly ...
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (10.24.07)
The Lebanese will get IRANIAN I.D. Cards, as will the Syrians. They might even get Iranian ID's in Gaza. The ID's will feature photos of all the women in veils & sunglasses & all the men will get beards. The added attraction is that no one will have to take pictures. All photos will be provided by the Islamic Ministry of the Interior - since everyone will look alike, why bother to take photos?
8. ease what?
Tobias   (10.24.07)
I don't know how Syrian ID cards could ease anything for somebody living in an area like Golan, which is administered by Israel and not by Syria. The only advantage which I see is that, as Syrian citizens, they'll be able to move to Syria (i.e. "the Syrian motherland") in order to escape the Israeli "harassment and human rights violations" (or whatever). So is Mr. Assad basically encouraging the arab population of Golan to emigrate to Syria (and leave the Golan for the jewish inhabitants)? I'd be surprised. Or does he want to evacuate all arab civilians from the battle zone before start of the next big war, in order to be able to shoot on everyone moving on the Golan without endangering the arab population? Or what ...?
9. Sour grapes & grandstanding
David P ,   Hartford USA   (10.24.07)
Maybe the Assad 'dynasty' shouldn't have been so quick to to go war years ago. They lost the war, they lost their land. Period. End of story. Assad's future greatness will come from his ability to move on and create a lasting peace with the borders as they are. If he can't do this, (and I doubt he can), his people will suffer through more wars and poverty. Stop seeking glory for past misdeeds. Consider the fate of your people for a change. Be the leader of your people and not the lackey for some uneducated buffoons with beards.
10. If they take the cards, send them back.
Yakov ,   USA   (10.24.07)
Many of these people have refused Israeli citizenship, and thus, their status there should be reviewed. If ANY decide to accept the cards, by all means send them back to Syria-I mean deportation yes. They have made very clear on what side they stand.
11. Terry from Eilat. I've been wondering
Joe ,   Ohio, USA   (10.24.07)
about that also for a long time. What a better 'out' for both Israel and Syria. Neither would be bowing to the pressure of the other and the Druze would have a state of their own. A win win all the way around. Depending on how it all worked out there could be a exchange of Druze in Israel with the Jews in Golan or leave things as they are. My only question is why hasn't any of our enlightened political leaders ever come up with the idea ?
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