The vast majority of Israelis are not ready to make any of these so-called sacrifices, code for giving away land for pieces of worthless paper. YOU are willing, not US. Do you know what sacrifices we're willing to make? We will sacrifice to defend the territorial integrity of the State. We will sacrifice to defend the Jewish character of the State. And, we will sacrifice to prevent unscrupulous opportunists like you from endangering the security of the country.

The only painful concession here would be for Syria to give up their aspirations of ever getting the Golan back. The most unpopular prime minister in Israel's history fighting against 70% of the populations desire not to cede the land? This isnt Gaza. I dont think the people or the army would agree to it.

Let alone expect them to. This is utter silliness.

We saw your power at Wye when Clinton got you and Yasser together when you held Arafat's hand and gave him more than Olmert offers him today. It was only a miracle that Arafat turned down your surrender of 97% of Hashem's land. We saw your power when you powerfully fled in the night from South Lebanon giving Hezbollah the boost and free reign to grow into a grave threat to Israel. You have helped turn Israel from powerful and feared to weak and ripe for her end. Thank you Kadima ,Labor, parties of Israel's demise. Barak, now your power is in your mouth with empty words that only fools believe.

So....does that mean olmert barak livni and the gang of appeasers will be resigning so we can return to that position of power?

This is basically what is happening beneath the sudden change in Israel's position re: Golan. It evisions Obama as Pres. and feels what that means, a far less supportive (of Israel) President, with it's implications. Many in his camp have been pushing for "Talks" with Iran and Syria by (US), Some people want Israel to "Talk" to Hamas. Both groups are defined as terror organizations NOW. Okay, so Israel is talking, with qualifications..AND expected results. It is stating publicly Marcel: stopping support of terror groups within and without, ending it's association with Iraq's military.,..(probably) recognizing Israel's right to exist free from violence and intimidation. Israel will demand some footage along the sea...for continued access (to avoid a Rafah situation); exchange of ambassadors and opening cultural exchanges. In return, Syria gets the Golan, demilitarized. Does anyone expect instant gratification...now that would be naive by all involved. This is a good ploy by Israel...and already is both confusing and aggravating the Bush administration, which has their own agenda (Iraq)., infiltrators, etc. Keeping the Golan has it's advantages..but won't stop Syria's 700 missiles.

I'm all in favor of returning the Golan to Syria. However, there must be two stipulations in the contract, the first directed at Syria (Iran, Hizbollah, Al-Queda, etc):, as follows: 1. after the first unprovoked attack by Syria et al on Israel ,down below, either by automatic rifle, mortar, bomb, rocket of ANY kind, Israel will respond by totally destroying all major Syrian cities , their populations included. stipuation #2 for Olmert: once Syria is destroyed (the IDF having taken all military decision-making power away from Olmert), the PM will be brought to trial on charges of high treason and crimes against the Jewish People. Once convivcted, he will be summarily executed. If both Syria & Olmert agree to these contractual conditions, then I say "wonderful", give the Golan to Syria (Iran, Hizbollah)

You give war a chance sweetie. You can say that sentence only after you know what it is like to wear a gas mask or to sit in a shelter and wait for the bang. Or when you say goodbye to your son and never know whether you will see him again. I live in the Golan. If there is a war I have nowhere to go. You don't fancy sharing your house with some refugees. Do you?

I truly want peace. I wanted to believe in Oslo and the peace with Jordan. However, from my limited experience I understand this. "Painful concessions" for Israel means that we'll give up land and uproot families. For Syria it means that they will acknowledge that we exist for one day, and vow for our destruction on the next.

Dear Mr. Barak, In what manner is Israel negotiating from a position of strength. We have a PM under fire, negotiating to try to save his own political career: nothing more. You are proliferating delusion.

Barak says.."One must be realistic – peace can only be achieved from a position of power." What position of power? The most unpopular PM in Israel's history, his policies opposed by 70% or more of Israelis, Hamas and Hezbollah making Israel look like fools: is this the "position of power" that he is talking about? Israel should solidify its hold on the West Bank and Gaza, coerce Jordan and Egypt (by threats if necessary) to extend citizenship to the Arabs living there, and then expel any one of them that refuses to abide by Israeli law. Any that do not wish to live in Israel as legal aliens can sell their homes and properties and move. Any Arabs who are to poor to leave and have nothing to sell should be relocated by the UN--its about time they did something useful with the billions of dollars of "refugee" money they extort from everyone. If Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, or Egypt do not like this nd try another war then this time Israel should not quite until it is finished--with the IDF in Beirut, Amman, Damascus, and Cairo. Forcefully disarm them, demilitarize the State, and put the least radical locals you can find in the govt. with the promise of heavy punishment if they attempt to rearm. That is peace from a position of power. Israel could have done all of this in 1967 or 73' if they had not let the US tell them what to do.

and should be investigated for corruption. Sharon and Olmert were caught because of their eager for 'painful concessions' to please the Left.

Nobody will agree to give up the Golan. Its absolute nonsense. Israel will get nothing but more of the same and everyone with half a wit is well aware thats exactly what will happen. Instead of pussy-footing around. How about DEFENDING the country right now?!

WE already paid the painful price for your stupidity and cowardice with Hizballah, Hamas and Fatah. YOU pay the painful price all by yourself by detaching yourself from the will of the people. YOU are playing with fire - and OUR lives while the enemy pays NOTHING! Shame on you!

it wont be long until the golan is returned to its people...jews, druze muslims will all be syrian citizens and live in peace.

Or is he a figment of the lefts imagination... Spin spin spin..spin yourselves to oblivion.

...a painful situation upon us Israelis - as if the purpose to the creation, our world and our universe, is to be a self hating masochist nation appeasing the perverted will of our retarded, despotic, anti-Semitic and barbaric enemies that treat women and minorities worse than animals. Ban Ehud & Ehud from the government, Knesset and Israel. They are traitors. Expel them from Israel.

This is complete and total insanity. I hope Israelis are not fooled by this "painful concession" shit again. I, as an Israel, and anyone else I know, were not asked whether they were willing to make any of these "painful concessions." I don't know who these willing people are, who was asked? Just like in Gaza, now rockets fall every day, and we're told that since this area is out of our hands, we can't go in, and same thing in the areas given up on the West Bank. This is a "Position of Power?" Who is he kidding? I hope we will have gotten well rid of all this gang, before any of this comes to pass.

The " painful concessions" Syria will be required to make, is to renounce terrorism. Really painful. As if once they "renounce" terrorism (just lip service), they will run and cut all ties with Iran, and terrorist activity. And if they don't, who will be around to monitor them? The U.N.?

It's painful that Knesset has a bad stomache and it's painful that we have to smell their bullshit.

A careful analysis of Barak's statement in the second paragraph reveals that the government believes that Syria will not make a treaty unless they are made more powerful in the Golan than is Israel. This proves that the negotiation is a political diversion, based simply on the fact that Israel cannot put its fate into the hands of the Syrians.