What is the chance that it is actually Assad baiting Isra'el? Draw Isra'el into the mix and turn all Syrians to a defensive position against Isra'el. Unite Syria and heal the wound. Draw the entire Arab world into the fray against Isra'el? Of course if that happened then Damascus would suddenly and surely become a "ruinous heap!"

this is not a war between repels/ opposition and the Syrian Asad forces.. everyone need to start realizing that this is a religion war.. the Sunni are trying to finish what the Egypt Islamic brotherhood started in 1982..this is a war between Sunni " supported by Arabs " Sunni" and the Asan Allawi party witch is Shia connected to Iran. in america and west interest is to remove the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah connection so they join in.. that's why Hamas stood with its Islamic brotherhood partner and supported the Sunni in Syria

Sorry Sarah and John! I am going with Faith on this one! Nothing wrong with hope! It is hope and dream that brought forth Israel. Your brand of "realism" would mean the chalutzim shouldn't have bothered to come! It was impractical and illogical! With your kind of absolutism, we would not have a country at all. Nothing wrong with hoping there is truth in the article while still holding on to our guns if it all turns out for naught! We ought to be prepared all all bad scenarious, but should good one arise, we shouldn't shy away from grabbing it! The truth is that even if the Syrian opposition does want peace, they are currently losing and the west and Arab states are just letting them die off, so from a practical stand point for us.. it is really just a non-starter. I don't think anyone here is advocating that Israel help the rebels so what will be, will be, and we shall stand watching and prepared for whatever comes out.

did appropriate international body such as UN for example recognize Israel's annexation of Golans for it to be "de jure"?

Hope is fine. But the reality is we are dealing with Arabs, who have waged war against Israel on six occasions, and have engaged in endless terrorist efforts for seven decades. Sometimes, you just have to go with the odds. I can assure you that the Syrians have never lost hope of re-acquiring the Golan Heights (with its three fresh water sources -- oh! Did you know that Turkey has been diverting fresh water from Syria and Syria is pretty much bone-dry and has no agriculture to speak of? -- and to think otherwise is sheer folly. I know that Browning thought that a man's reach should exceed his grasp (or what's a heaven for), but temper that optimism with the cold stark reality that we are dealing with Arabs. The fact that it is unpleasant or pessimistic does not make any less true. You can be as optimistic as you want on your own dime.

You are mistaken. It doesn't matter what an international body thinks or does not think (they'd vote Israel out of existence in a heartbeat, and most countries do not even recognize Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem). The annexation met the criteria of Israel's laws, and that is all the de jure required. Tell me -- if the entirety of the United Nations were to deem that Texas -- formerly a sovereign nation -- is not a part of the United States and should be sovereign state, and that New Mexico and Arizona were Mexican territories illegally acquired (via the so-called "Gadsden Purchase") and should be restored to Mexico, do you really think that the United States would care? So why would Israel care about what the United Nations -- or any other international plenum of anti-Semites and idiots -- think about Israel's absolute sovereignty over Jerusalem and the Golan Heights?

this wouldn't be the first time the baathists have accused internal enemies of being pro-israel. could be someone pretending to be part of the opposition to discredit it.

fall for it Assad would be shooting himself in a foot. Assad may be many things and all of those things may be true, but Assad is hardly an idiot.

nobody has recognized Israeli ownership of Golans. Call it what you will, but Israel's annexation of Golans is far from being "de jure". As of today, Israel can afford to ignore international opinion, but I am talking about opportunity to get rid of all the contesting claims at present and in the future. BTW, if Israel is so confident in being on the right how come it does not clear mine fields and start developing the area.

We cannot lose hope. With that thought, we here in Israel must be very cautious, and make sure we can protect ourselves of course, but never give up the dream of peace. The Israeli people welcome any chance of peace, always. I wish our neighbors felt the same.

I have to agree with Sarah on this issue. The Golan Heights is part of Israel, and we are not giving it "back" to anyone. It is not a claim -it is part of my country. We have given up enough of our land already. And as for clearing the mine fields: Well, if we had peaceful neighbors who weren't trying to kill us off, we would not need them, would we?

Knowing what was done to Kaddafi, what is going to be with Mubarak, is anyone in this world, except maybe Clinton, thinks, that he will go away? Even military in Syria understands, that somekind of brotherhood will take power after all. Why, do you think, they do not abandon Assad? Because their days will be numbered as soon as power will be transferred to any new entity.

yet had papa-Assad been smarter Barak would've negotiated it away 12 years ago. Next PM and even Nataniyahu are pressured to revive similar deal even nova days. Wouldn't you want it stopped.

Since 1982, no country has invaded Israel to "recover" the Golan. Do you know what that is called? De facto recognition. If you're not a lawyer, Leo, please don't practice curbside law. You'll make a fool of yourself. In fact, you already have. Think Tibet, honey -- that's just one example -- and figure out from there just what de jure really means.

The Golan has three fresh water sources. Israel's not giving it back -- ever. Besides, I think the kibbutzim in the valley below don't want to go back to using armor-plated tractors. The Golan is part of Israel. Forever and always. War is hell, and if you start one and lose it, there are consequences. But that would be Syria's problem, not Israel's. The Golan Heights are part of Israel. Forever.

share your sentiment. I am talking about practical approach. I am talking about taking an opportunity to make sure that argument over Golans will be resolved in Israel's favor once and for good. The moment it gets into UN books that Syria succeeds it to Israel all discussions regarding the status of Golan Heights can and will be brushed aside.

I question the timing of the SNC statement in relation to continued relations with Hizbullah just prior to Assad's forces enter Homs to mop up. It appeared to be a tactic to create indifference to the massacre that was about to take place, in Israel and the west. We know Assad has placed sleepers and bought people off in the opposition.