Talkbacks Peres: There are preconditions for talks with Syria | page 2

Syria does not hold the cards it feels it does. The reality is that the regime is under heavy pressure, between Lebanon and Iran. If it fails in Lebanon the regime will not be able to survive without serious reforms. Syrians are not content with an Iranian alliance, and want this secular government ruled by a religious minority (the Alawis) out of power. He needs to watch out for his minority Alawite demographic and that it does not get hit from an angry Sunni and Christian population - both of which are growing because of the Iraqi refugee influx. The domestic pressure on the Syrian regime is large, and it needs major political deals to survive. Israel should get more out of them if they go into negotiations, and not give back the entire Golan Heights. It may even be worth it to flirt with the idea of giving the Shebaa Farms to Lebanon as an alternative to the Golan to Syria. Israel should expand its relations with minorities in the region, namely the Christians. Israel had working relationships with the Christians during the Lebanese Civil War, and they will be the strongest bridge to making peace with Lebanon and Syria. Israel needs to hold on to more than what they had in 1967, and they should milk Syria for what it is worth.