Opinion  Others
Don't reject Syrian peace overtures
Gilad Sher
Published: 10.10.06, 15:21
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24 Talkbacks for this article
1. Great credentials
Concerned Israeli   (10.10.06)
What exactly did Sher's negotiating team negotiate from 1999 to 2001? An Al-Aqsa Intifada?
2. our mistake was taking arafat's peace initiatives seriously
aaron ,   ra'anana   (10.10.06)
3. Arab peace offer
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (10.10.06)
No Arab leader, other than Sadat, has ever made a serious peace offer. They are only interested in getting Israel to make tangible concessions in return for worthless promises. Chinless boy wonder is no exception.
4. Wise and prudent proposal
Bancor ,   Genoa, Italy   (10.10.06)
It'a a wise and very prudent proposal, that of Gilad Sher in this article. But, as to the first two talkbacks, it doesn't seem so. Well, guys: what do you want, at last? Status quo? Keep on warfare? Do you like so much? If you feel satisfied..., so be it. But remember that your problems may became our problems too, and when it will happen, we too will have to express our opinion.
5. Lebanese don't mind Hariri being assasinated by Assad
John ,   NZ   (10.10.06)
so they can have Hizblablah. Lebanese ppl deserved what they got but not peace with Israel. As for Syria, Assad is sensing imminent total destrucion coming from Israel.
6. Let him get his ass on a plane and address the Knesset ....
Andy ,   ramat hasharon   (10.10.06)
like Sadat did. Otherwise take your empty overtures and false promises and shove them.
7. actions speak louder than words and he harbors terrorists!
michael ,   tel aviv & london   (10.10.06)
Let Assad show good faith. Tell terror groups to leave. Close his borders with Lebanon and Iraq. He's just trying to take off some of the international heat.
8. To Bancor in Italy #4
Concerned Israeli   (10.10.06)
Oh Bancor, it all seems so simple. Israel only has to extend her hand to the surprising but sincere peace offerings of our Arab and Muslim neighbors. Then, the process of peace can blossom and flourish. Sorry, but you're not connected to reality. If you look at history, you will find that Israel's existence has been attacked ever since 1948; first by pan-Arabism and now by Islamic extremism. The siege has never ended. There are just some people, mainly Arabs and lately other Muslim entities, that simply don't want Israel to be here, no matter what. Any concession to them is seen as a little step closer to their final victory. Assad, supported by an Islamic extremist regime in Iran that calls for Israel's destruction and the murder of Jews, himself supports another terrorist organization in Lebanon with the same genocidal goals. This terrorist organization which Assad supports is operating illegally outside the sovereignty of its host state and uses violent physical coercion for political purposes. Assad also has no regard for human life and dignity as anyone that opposes him is either jailed, tortured, or killed. I am no warmonger and have no desire to keep the status quo. Actually, there's nothing in the world that I want more than to have peace in this region. This does not mean though that peace can be achieved by handing over Israel's most strategic security asset to a person like Bashar Assad who supports terror, violates national sovereignty, and doesn't even respect human life.
9. number 4 - shut up, pay your dhimi tax like a good European
Moshe ,   Beit Shemesh   (10.10.06)
your countrymen raise dogs instead of children. you are getting flooded by Muslims. if you think that by turning on Israel your 'new countrymen' will hate you any less, you are an idiot. look at France - the most pro-Iranian, pro-Pali, pro-Sadaam, anti-Israel (that 'shitty little country') in Europe - didn't help them last year in their cute little mini-Intafada - that's just a taste of what them and you guys have coming. I hope your wife (if you have one) enjoys wearing a veil on her way to the supermarket.
10. The Third Destruction?
Nicolaus ,   San Francsico, USA   (10.10.06)
Amazing... The extent of self-dillusion determines the neareness of the end of many empires. Syria is happy to stay like this till the end of time. Israel cannot continue fighting in the North and the South ad infinitum. This may be a good reason to talk to the Syrians. The Syrians relaize that it is a good time for israel to talk to them - in order to get back the Golan Heights - which eventually israel will handback, lock, stock and barrel. Israel is in a very weak spot, with its ability to defend ints hinterland shattered... If it nuked its enemies, it will soon be nuked itself. Does it take a genius to find a solution from all this? Israel's strategy of existing by force (Ben Gurion's legacy) needs to change. Diplomacy is today's answer - unless Israel is planning on a THIRD DESTRUCTION!
11. The Myth of Peace-loving and the Reality of War-making
Nicolaus ,   San Francisco, USA   (10.10.06)
Kyle: Do you remember an Israeli leader who talked peace and acted in peace? Stop fooling yourself. Israel have never had a day of peace. The dream that drove immigrants, such as yourself, to hop over to other peiople's land may be the central cause, but now they are there, they have shown no interest in peace... Only a single interest: to be more powerful than their neighbors. Well this is now history. The fight with Hizbullah brought this to a partial end - conventional end, shall we say, and the emergence of Iran as an unstoppable nuclear power will leave only the Samson Solution too. I hope Israelis will make certain their mad government does not take it... It would be the third time madmen destroyed Israel... for a hangover and a myth. Pitty the children of Israel. DFor they kill and rob, and finally do that unto themselves!
12. To Concerned Israeli #8
Bancor ,   Genoa, Italy   (10.10.06)
You may be right, on your own, as to the story of Israel, even if there may be others who, on the other side, claim their reasons on the basis of their vision of the problem. But let me say, as uninvolved person, that it's better to look forward than backward, and that peace is possible only between two enemies. In a former talkback, I remembered what did your PM Begin for peace with Egypt, and I'm sure that you won't consider "non connected to reality" a member of Irgun. And the times weren't surely easier that nowadays.
13. To Moshe, #9
Bancor ,   Genoa, Italy   (10.10.06)
If that's your way of reasoning, what may I say? Only that you are a desperately poor man. My best wishes for you mental sanity.
14. great deal: if Israel begs, syria will take all, give zero
dante ,   uk   (10.11.06)
oh, this is really great: Israel can surrender to syria and, maybe, get something. or, maybe not. well, probably not. but so what? that's the kind of deal that should appeal to olmert and peretz. btw: what are those losers doing outside of a cell?
15. Yes, try diplomacy
lynne ,   austin texas usa   (10.11.06)
Nothing will be lost by talking. Every opportunity to increase understanding and to improve the lives of all people in the Middle East must be taken. I am 100% pro-Israel, but not against any nation of people. By all means, talk!
16. 13 bancor you are a lost soul.
freedom ,   canada   (10.11.06)
No one with peace on there mind knows that will ever solve the problem.. The Golan heights is a useless piece of property. The Syrians can have peace whenever they want... The Golan Heights have nothing to do with that. You can not start a war and expect to no have to pay for REPARATIONS.. Oh wait, I forgot Lebanon did through Hizbullah... darn......
17. Syrian threat?! The Jews are doing it all by themselves.
diamond ,   USA   (10.11.06)
Who needs Syria? Ynet writes about the Palestinian 'nightmare' of checkpoints. Not the nightmare of 12 year olds missing eyes and hands. Leftist Jew after Leftist Jew writes about the "Zionazi" state, the Arab agony, the Hebrew criminals, Israeli abuses, ad nauseum. Russia is now sitting literally on your North door. Iran is on your Western porch. Wait for the overthrow of Egypt and dominos shall fall. I love you, Israel, but unless you aggress decisively...nice knowing you.
18. Syria, a Peace Partner!!!
RIB ,   USA   (10.11.06)
O.K.! YOU go talk to 'em! http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/news/jdw/jdw060627_1_n.shtml Remember this one - Bow and Surrender! http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1241
19. All sweetness and light?
eh-oop ,   UK   (10.11.06)
Ultimately the USA can afford to give away more of Israel for the illusion of peace than can Israel. No wonder Assad sees the USA as the key to negotiations, especially at a time when he sees the Israeli government as weak, when there is division between the US and what the State Dept visibly regards as a former ally and while Assad, himself, NEEDS immediate protection and WISHES to be seen as distancing himself from Iran, i.e. as keeping his options open. Just because I don't believe in conspiracy theories doesn't mean there is no conspiracy.
20. it never hurts to talk !
GDB1099 ,   nyc, ny, usa   (10.11.06)
back-stab politics was invented in damascus. going back to the assyrians, history shows the nature of the damascene beast. what better example than the ummayads of damascus conspiring in assassinating Imam Ali and his son Hussein. look at the history of the assad regime in lebanon, the musical chairs game-plans and their chameleon politics and strategies. talk but do not trust and if u have to show trust, trust but verify. as for the idiot's comment that the lebanese people deserve that the syrians killed hariri, i suggest you take your head out of your new zealand moutton ass and go back to kindergarten where you belong.
21. #15 - you talk and people expect an outcome
redmike ,   tel aviv & london   (10.11.06)
most often it's good to talk but not always. Assad shows no signs of wanting peace - empty words yes - signs no. He wants to be seen to be engaging Israel in talks and therefore to be seen as a 'good' guy in the eyes of the west. If in doubt judge actions and not words. He'd love to say I gave it my best shot but Israel was intransigent. He's between a rock and a hard place right now so let’s wait a little.
22. Re #18: Yeh that bow and surrender could be a sticking pnt.
Steve ,   USA   (10.11.06)
B"H Rib, Nice quote. If Syria and Iran are in military alliance, and Iran espouses the quoted philosophy, I very much doubt that the pride thing can be overcome for a reasonable agreement to be signed. I do not see Syria giving up land for peace. "Bow and surrender" is not "peace and love." Quote: If you want to have good relations with the Iranian people in the future, you should acknowledge the right and the might of the Iranian people, and you should bow and surrender to the might of the Iranian people. If you do not accept this, the Iranian people will force you to bow and surrender.
23. Here's a guy that might KNOW!
RIB ,   USA   (10.12.06)
Dore Gold! ~A captured insurgent in Najaf told the Iraqi security authorities that he had gone through training camps in Syria. In short, Syrian fingerprints are all over the insurgency. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16574
24. As much as I would like to believe it
CJ ,   USA   (10.12.06)
I think Assad's recent flurry of interviews are time-sensitive propaganda directed at the governments of Israeli and the US (and probably dictated by Iran).
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