We have a man running the country who belives that its his private property to do with as his wishes. He wants Israel to be like every other state in the region and thats either a country ruled by a dictaitor or a king. He hates the idea of democracy and thats why even though he has only around 3% popularity reating he still clings onto power refusing to accept the will of the majority & resign. Allow this man to run things for much longer there wont be much in the way of an Israel left by the time he does finaly go. What we need now is an indipendently drafted consitution based on sugestions from the public & practicality purposes .. no politicians involved in its drafting. We also need a new political system where the party with the most seats makes the government we get rid of this undemocratc and unstable coalition system. All MKs must be ellected on a regional basis so there is acountability to the voters as things stand the serving MKs are not ellected democraticly the public vote for a party not an individual and your job just depends on how friendly you are with the boss. Israel is about to celebrate its 60th aniversary isnt it time we had a mature political system instead of a joke of a system which has nothing simmilar anywhere in the world. The new new Iraqi & Afghan governments are ellected on a more democratic basis than Israels politicians and Israel is supposed to be a democracy.

This will be the end of Israel, if it cedes Golan. First of all, now Iran will be able to pound us from next door and it will also be an economic crisis. There will be water shortage, because Kineret will be gone!!! Either we wake up and not let this muppet thats called Olmert, or we will all vanish!!!!!

view is much nicer from brooklyn. the people of israel will decide what to do about the Golan, not people of brooklyn

This is so dumb.

If they give back Golan Heights once again Syria will shell Israel as it did before 1967..... But, If PEACE can be made Syria will have to stop funding HAMAs, Hezbollah, kick Mashal out fo Damascus, and some other things Israel offered Golan... and Syria what does it has to offer ?????

It's urgent to stop the giveway of land, whether the Golan, Judea and Samaria, or parts of Jerusalem itself. We're talking days or weeks at the most to do something. There's no time to carry on big political reforms. Why isn't there at the very minumum a call for a referendum?

If the man is suicidal ? ? ? This is his prerogative on his own person, BUt how wise is this new move ? Well my friends ! As we see the situation, many IDF man died to secure the hights of the Golan, for the security in the North of Israel. Things are worse now, we have not only dictators in Syria but Dictators with their friend the Mulahs in Lebanon and Iran. I was thinking Mr.Olmert had on problem he is not able to resolve in Gaza. But the man wants to place all Israel in Danger. Shalom from Houston Alberto

1. Signing over the Golan for a piece of paper does not and will not bring peace. Syria will continue its terror funding and friendship with Iran. The only difference will be that they will be looking down on us from the mountains rather than vice-versa. It will also open up yet another front for terrorists to settle in and build bases and infrastructure to attack Israel at some later date. 2. Going against the American policy of Syrian isolation will severely hurt our most valuable diplomatic relations. It will also send a message that Israel is willing to give in to state sponsors of terrorism, a message that Iran will love to receive. This will not only embolden the terrorists in the region, but also Iran and its nuclear program. On paper, Syria might be at peace with Israel. But they have no reason to cut off their own strategic assets in the region. They need to continue their ties with Hizballah and Iran in order to survive. This means that Israel loses big time while Syria gains everything. I can only hope that the Israeli public will not let this happen.

You Israelis are SO independent...yes you will make all the decisions....so stop coming to us in the U.S. hat in hand asking for financial support, military support, political support....you want our money? Fine...then as the golden rule says "He who has the gold makes the rules"...we get to chime in and tell you what to do...you don't like it....let's see you give up the money from the U.S. (and by the way both the donations and the money from the U.S. government come from individuals).

What right does anyone, never mind a half wit politician have to give up any part of Israel and endanger the lives of those living in it. What concern do they have, they have there swiss bank accounts. If the going gets tough, they'll just pack up and go somewhere else, perhaps even Syria or Iran!!!

We'll have Mickey Olmert Mouse, Mini Livini Mouse, Donald Bashir Duck, and Goofy Barak...

Why give up precious Jewish land in exchange for a cold peace with Syria; a cold peace Israel already has with Syria. What did Israel get with Egypt other than a cold peace, by giving up the valuable Sinai? Ehud Olmert is a lunatic. I am shocked that Jews voted for this incompetent mad-man. He is a disgrace. Shame on Israel's Jews! Shame on all of you!

That's right. The view will be much nicer from Brooklyn. Especially when the view from the Israeli farms on the Galilee will be Syrian bunkers and machine gun nests, pill boxes, and yellow Hizbullah flags over vacated Israeli structures, not to mention young Assad dipping his feet in the Kinneret lake as his father had always dreamed. By the way, if you really were Israeli, you would not have said this, because 90% of Israelis oppose returning the Israeli part of Golan to Syria.

are you suggesting that the security of the State of Israel relies only on the occupation of foreign lands and when that ends it will end its existence?

Why are the Israeli people allowing Olmert to destroy the country. ?Where is the spirit of the people to stand up to this guy? In fact where are the opposing politicians? Doesn't Israel have any nationalists left in the country. One man with the help of a cowed populace will be allowed to destroy the country bit by bit.

You say it as a joke but in reality the entire land is Palestinian and was stolen 60 years ago. Israel must recognize zionism was based and theft and racism and therefore must end.

Doubt Olmert is giving up Golan as Syria "negotiates" via news media . Besides see next news item topic about US getting info Israel past September bombed North Korean nuclear reactor in Syria coming public soon. Shows good faith peace effort on Syria's part , yes? No.

I dont understand why is everyone so against peace between syria and israel?? What's wrong with withdrawing from the golan? after all, it is internationally recognized syrian territory. It can become a peace park which every has access to and israel can withdraw over 5-10years while syria distancse itself from hamas,iran, etc. Think of how much more peaceful the middle east would be if syria and israel were friends. Think of the misery that our sons and daughters will go through in the event of a war. Please, dont be so extremist, think about peace for a moment! Every prime minster offered the golan, why is olmert being bashed so much if he agrees to what his predecessors already agreed on? Even if he loses and netanyaho comes on .. he agrees too! The bottom line, you cant be an enemy with your nighbour forever. Make peace and lets start a new page!!!

if it is true - GREAT. we need peace and quiet and not piece n war.

If Syria wants peace with Israel, it should offer in exchange the Golan. The Golan represent for Israel more security than "peace" with Syria. But of course that will not happen. So, there is no reason for Israel to be generous with the Mafia regime of Assad. The Assad family has established a hereditary dynasty shored up by repression within, and confrontation and terror abroad. The rule of the Assads is not aimed at improving the lot of their people or forwarding a particular ideology. They changed ideology from secular Arabism to a seemingly impossible confection of pan-Arabism and Islamist extremism. It is pointless to “engage” Syria in dialogue except insofar as it is possible to confront them with their violations and insist that they mend their ways as explained at : http://xrl.us/bjcsd

We foolishly gave away Gaza. What PEACE did we get? Giving away Golan---which is HISTORIC Israel---is absolute craziness. We will just bring the enemy closer, and will bring closer the day when Israel is destroyed. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THESE IMBECILES??? If we should give away ANYTHING, let's give away Olmert, Livni, Barak and Peres. Maybe even throw in Jimmy Carter for good measure.

Indians today...also. In exchange for peace....he gave the reservations to the 290 million foreign occupiers......while the rest of the United States went to a few million Indians. He's a brilliant negotiator you know. Are you sure he isn't working for the people,on the other side of the wall you are putting up?