the lebanese made 'peace' with syria instead of israel-now even they can see the results. agreements with syria are worthless as soon as it has the upper hand.....israel has as much 'peace' with syria as it will ever see right now,thanx to idf.

Nothing personal, but Syria could for sure pacify Lebanon with its entire military in there, including Hizbullah. If Israel could gain Golan legitimacy by keeping their mouth shut as long as Syria reigned in the extremists, I say go for it. Only Syria would take the heat in the UN and Israel gets what it wants. Everyones a winner....except Lebanon that is...not that they ever did anything to promote peace.

The author is right in admitting he knows nothing about Lebanon. Therefore he should keep his mouth shut. Syria created those Hizbullah monsters and instead of facing Syria he wants to give them a gift from heaven. What kind of dumb strategy is this? No wonder Israel is surrounded by ennemies.

When will these fools ever learn, To Arabs, appeasement is a sign of weakness! Its obvious Yaron is trying to prop up Olmerts hidden agenda of giving up the Golan, so he can fool the people into thinking this will bring peace. Olmert will do anything to stop his dismissal. These leftist defeatists need to shut up. This guy admits he is no expert on Lebanon, so what gives him the right to comment?

It would be part of the same campaign to preemptively strike Iran. We should hit them with everything we have ... And if Hezbollah reacts, say goodby to Lebanon. You just can't be a nice guy..... Not in this neighborhood.

israels to give away.

we all know it. Its coming for sure. They are building up and talking up all the time. The persians and arabs are getting ready to have another go at getting rid of Israel. They just cant help themselves. Yep. Huge war on its way. No winners just millions dead as usual and untold destruction. All for Allah.

Let's extirpate the pain from the root. The Hizb and the Hamas get their money from Iran's oil. Let's ruin Ahmadinejad. The middle East will be a better place.

During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, under INTENSE U.S. pressure, Israel's leaders to the horror of the Free World's people, agreed to UN Resolution 1701 that prevented the goal vital to Israel's security - eliminating the rocket threat from Lebanon. UN Resolution 1701 successfully prevented Israel from defeating Iran's terrorist army Hezbollah thus greatly weakening Israel and aiding and empowering Hezbollah to take over Lebanon. Another victory for global jihad CREATED by Western ruling elites - another victory for the Islamics in the war against the world's non-Muslims.

Yaron. There is a flaw in the israeli strategies and logic. You give Lebanon to Syria and then it wants the Golan and after that it would be all Israel. Fix the palestinian problem or attack Syria. Hiding behind the curtain will not help you and neither manipulating others. Good luck, you will need it.

I don't think the failed state of Israel is in a state to make deals with Syria. Hezbollah will liberate Lebanon, unite it with Syria and then liberate Palestine from 60 years of occupation.

Agreed! Once Iran and Syria are eliminated from the planet, peace will be possible. Israel shoud not give up one grain of sand to the scum bag arabs. They are SATAN's minions. Rely on the faith in your Creator he has promised protection.

are you saying that we should give lebanon to syria instead of the Golan .. ?????????? i have news for you ..we are way ahead of you ..we are talking giving 1948 palestine to the palestinians ..by the year 2020 ...just by natural growth .. no need for wars .

This is a golden time to isreal to do nothing.let hizballah take lebanon and the arabs (egypt & saudi arabia) feel the danger of Shiites groups and iran.

FYI, it never belonged to these immigrant arabs. Ultimately, they'll go back to Syria, Iraq, or whatever backward arab country they came from. Yaron, 1/2 right and 1/2 wrong, I'm glad you didn't claim to be a prophet or we would have had to stone you, STAM! This Israeli government is sending a huge message to the Muslim world, true or not, that Israel is weak and almost ready for the plucking. Since they have failed so many times, this time they are planning much more carefully. Hizbullah is a part of that equation that they will use to try to flank Israel on their right. Hamas is to come from the south with the now much more well trained and armed army, and they are hoping that Egypt will change their minds and come in and join the feed. Of course, with the help of the good old US of A, the arabs in the Shomron and Yehuda will try to drive towards the sea and split the country in 2. This is there hope and they will surely try, if not this summer(absolutely not ready), then certainly latest by next summer. Oh, we forget, each time they try to implement these wonderfull plans, G-d messes them up. I hope that the US doesn't get caught on the wrong side of this putrid effort at this false and destructive peace. Peace, peace cry out the dogs of war, before they strike and kill.

of Middle Eastern Semetic Arab land.

The only way to resolve these issues is to confront Syria. As we can see 30 years of appeasement have not made them better neighbors

So is Saudi territory leading down to the Hijaz part of Malchut Yisrael. Also Iraq up to the Euphrates.

While it is true that the Shia comprise the largest ethnic group in Lebanon, this does not mean that they are in any way homogeneous in their loyalties and affiliation. The Amal militia fought bloody battles with the Hizbolla before they merged with the regular army in 1990. The Amal represented moderate/secular Shiite interests in Lebanon. They were also very anti-Syrian. While the Hizbolla might enjoy an advantage in being the best equipped in Lebanon. This is because they are getting a lot of aid from Iran. This is not from demographic loyalty.

Attacking Syria is not in Israel's best interests. The Syrian influence in Lebanon is not something that Israel controls, nor are we responsible for it. Rather inter-Lebanese fighting is responsible for it. If you people would unite under one banner instead of keeping your own individual militias and back stabbing each other you would liberate yourselves from all Iranian Syrian influences. You would also get all of the foreign back up that you need. Until then to many a foreign nation has been burnt from your intercine violence.

That is why all land north of the Saudi penninsula should be converted from its Arab status and the inhabitance should be removed from there. Arab lands are a dangerous red herring that needs to be removed.

"We do not know the price Syria will be willing to pay for a secret pledge that Israel would not do a thing to prevent Lebanon’s annexation to Syria, but it is worthwhile looking into it – this price may be Syrian willing to renounce its claims for the Golan." What has he been smoking? Israel would never concede to this. It would give Syria further capabilities to exercise hedgimony over us and demand more concessions from us. This is the stupidest proposal that I have ever seen in writing!

First, the Shiites comprise around 30% of Lebanese, Sunnis the same and Christians a little less than 40%. Second, Lebanese Shiaa embrace another radical form of Islam which also calls for the eradication of Jews; so they'll never be your allies. Third, Syria is for the moment ruled by the Alawite Assad clan that mounts to 10% (max) of the total population which is an anomaly that will change in due time and accordingly it's no use to bargain with. And, Fourth Israel's strategic edge has been eroding especially after the 2006 skirmish with Hizb, so it cannot simply give what it doesn't own. So Mr. London it's better that you stick to what you know most.

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.

That was quit a good critique of Mr London's article. But your request that Mr London stick to his "area of expertise" is a difficult demand, seeing as he doesn't have an area of expertise. He is what we call here an "alta-cocker leftist yente" - a kind of ideologic dinosaur left over from another epoch. In Mr London's mind, Rabin is still PM & Oslo a success. Time stopped for Mr London long ago. I assume that from your point of view, Lebanon falling into the Shi'ia Iranian orbit along with Iraq & Syria is quite a disconcerting event.

Syria thinks it is entitled to the entire Balad esh Sham, from the Taurus Mountains to the Sinai peninsula. Syria claimed the Hatay from Turkey, and harbored PKK to strike at Turkish territory as leverage. Then the Turks made the Syrians an offer they could not refuse: "If you do that, we will dam the Euphrates and divert your main source of water." Now Syria accepts Turkey's claims, and the two are good friends. Israel should make it clear. If one Syrian soldier enters Lebanon, they may be targeted by Israel. If one Syrian soldier crosses the Golan disengagement line, Israel will take and annex the remainder of the Golan which was given up by Israel in 1974.

and so far it is the only such opinion I read on the Israeli news. Once again, Arabs fail to make the distinction between a private individual voicing his own opinion in the name of freedom of expression, and Israel's policy, which Peres made very clear: "Israel will not exchange the Golan Heights for a Syrian-controlled Lebanon". That is the Israeli policy, however Israel cannot and will not help you from an internal Hizbullah takeover, which is happening as we speak. So good luck, YOU will need it.

I don't believe that there will ever be a Shiite axis extending from Iraq to Lebanon since, by human nature, there will be an opposite reaction from Sunnis (Turkey , Egypt, Jordan) to counterbalance. Also, forget about Israel, a Shiite controlled Lebanon is Iran's beach head on the Mediterrenean i.e 200 miles from Cyprus (Europe) with all the Nato bases now within Iranian missiles range and nobody will accept that. Then, Shiites cannot control Lebanon since yesterday they took a hell of a beating in the Druze areas (Hizb KIA 60+) and a similar fate is looming in other areas. And there will always be someone who will arm their rivals. As to Syria, it's better not to get involved in a dirty deal with Assad clan since, Primo they are living on borrowed time and this will only embitter Sunnis towards Israel. Secondo, Israel morally should not get into a deal with Syria re Lebanon, a small country where minorities live (Christians, Druze, etc... does it ring a bell?), and last but not least I believe that after Lebanon War 2 Israel's strategic importance towards the US and the West is doubtful and is in no position to bargain about the fate of another free nation. Whereas Israel will benefit most if it contributes favorably towards a free Lebanon.