Syrian opposition leader: Israeli factories can stay in Golan
Syrian émigré visits Golan Heights overlooking his homeland, says Israeli factories should be allowed to remain open under Syrian authority should the land be returned. But first, he says, Assad's regime must be toppled
"If I am president of Syria, I will see no need to evacuate Israeli factories from the Golan within the framework of a peace agreement," said visiting Syrian opposition leader and émigré Farid Ghadry.
"They can continue operating under Syrian sovereignty and pay taxes. They can also employ Syrians and I would welcome that. This is pragmatism in the fullest sense of the word," said Ghadry.
Ghadry spoke during a tour of the Golan Heights on Tuesday, his first ever visit to the region. "This is 100 percent Syrian territory, the Golan is Syrian land. I came here to express my opinion as a Syrian citizen, to reassure the Syrians that this is our land, and that one day we will recover it in full," he said.
Ghadry's rhetoric is clear – Syrian President Bashar Assad must be overthrown, and fast. According to Ghadry Israel must refuse to negotiate with the current regime under any circumstances, saying that such contact would result in direct Iranian influence over the Golan.
Ghadry said that only after Assad is removed from power and a stable democracy is established in Damascus will there be a true chance for peace between Syria and Israel. Until then, he said, the only one who would gain anything from a peace agreement is Assad himself, at the expense of the two peoples.
"Bashar Assad is under enormous pressure and it's his own fault. Instead of choosing peace, he has chosen a path of violence and terror. He has brought this on himself. We believe that the winds are changing in Syria, slowly but surely. Assad is not Egypt's Sadat nor is he Jordan's Hussein. He is a violent and dangerous man. If Israel signs an agreement with him, all it will have done is extend an invitation to (Iranian President) Ahmadinejad to the Golan Heights," Ghadry said.
'The Israeli people want peace'
This is not Ghadry's first trip to Israel. In 1996 he visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem while on a business trip to the country.
"I prayed at the al-Aqsa Mosque and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher," he recalls with pride. This time he has arrived with much media fanfare with fellow exiled Syrian opposition leader Dr. Hussein Saado in tow.
"It is my impression that the Israeli people want peace, and that their main concern is their security. This was something that I knew, but I grew more and more aware of it during my time here," said Ghadry.
When asked about the fevered criticism lashed at him by MKs Ahmad Tibi and Muhammad Barakeh during his visit to the Knesset earlier this week, Ghadry said: "We long for the day when we can express our opinions in Syria like these men express their opinions in a democratic nation. Differences of opinion are a good thing in a democracy, so we have nothing to say about this."
The Golan Heights tour was led by MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), a former nature guide. Steinitz said that it was possible that more Syrian opposition leaders would be inspired by Ghadry's visit and also choose to come to Israel.
"I can't name names, but several months ago I met with another Syrian opposition official in the United States and following this (Ghadry's) visit he has already contacted me to say he is considering a trip to Israel in the near future. I think that this is encouraging."
Steinitz also addressed recent criticism of Ghadry's relevancy: "There are no democratic elections in Syria, so I couldn't tell you is the Syrian Reform Party is large – like the Likud or Labor – or small like Meretz, but there is no doubting that it is a very important party within the Syrian oppositions. I have no doubt that the opposition in Syria has more public support than Assad."
But despite the flattering words, Steinitz had no heartening news for his guest. When asked if he would be willing to cede the Golan in the event that Ghadry would one day be in power, Steinitz said: "I'm not willing to withdraw from the Golan Heights under any circumstances. I think the Golan is crucial to Israel's existence and also because of its historical roots.
"My position is that peace must withstand the test of decades, and therefore we must be sure that there are no changes in the policies of neighboring countries," he said.
"Without any regard to my opinions and his opinions, he definitely seems like a man that we can open a channel of dialog with and negotiate with and maybe we can find a compromise, though I cannot see one at present time. There is point in at least trying to communicate, but certainly not with the current regime."
