I support Israel holding the Golan *for now*, simply because I want whatever permanent peace deal Israel and Syria sign to actually *stick*, and that’ll only happen if neither side feels they got a ‘raw deal’. If Syria gets something tangible — they get the Golan back, perhaps with some sort of time provision, say, 10 years of peace with Syria and then the Golan is returned — the deal is more likely to stick.

The world doesn’t give a damn about the mountains, but they do give a damn about the Middle East and its endless conflicts (of which the mountains are a part of). Israel and Syria will eventually have to make peace and it is extremely likely that Syria will get the Heights back as part of the deal, whether you like it or not.

It is part of Israel ‘according to Israel and Israelis’ but it isn’t according to the rest of the world (which is what really matters)

The Golan is a part of Israel, period.

You just don’t get it do you? Smashing armies does not gain legitimacy, it gains more hatred on the part of the Arabs. And if you’re unable to make peace with your neighbours (i.e. have real diplomatic and economic links) then people around the world see Israel as a pariah state. Israel has invaded countries and bombed countries and not the other way round.

Egypt and Jordan are not neighbors? Name one nation-state that has challenged Israeli sovereignty in 40 years.

Egypt, in return for Sinai and a ehole of aid from the US (notice the ‘in return’ bit) and Jordan in return for a whole load of aid (Jordan didn’t really give a crap about Israel anyway)

You want us to sacrifice security for the sake of perception among some misguided individuals? Again, this serves no credible purpose. If Jews start trying to appease any fantastical delusions of their enemies, we’ll be shooting ourselves in the head tomorrow as a compromise measure. Thanks but no thanks.

Sacrifice your security? give me a break. Like you said yourself, Israel’s sovereignty hasn’t been challenge in 20 years, you can no longer play the victim card. Fanatical delusions? Are you talking about the same Assad that I am?

It shows how little you known. The US has imposed a comprehensive sanctions regime on Syria, which has been supported and enforced by many Arab states. The Europeans trade with Iran too, so what? If America refuses to trade with you, things start going downhill. Syria has a collapsed, 1970s style economy. The Syrian regime is only able to maintain control on the basis of force and violence.

I don’t know whether you’ve realised this, but the US and a couple of Arab states not trading with a country will not destroy its economy. There is a world outside your little bubble you know. The Europeans don’t trade with Iran but the Europeans, Asians and Russians all trade with Syria, which keeps its economy running acceptably. I have friends in Syria, and they have no problem with the economy so I don’t know what planer you’re living on.

Yes, 5 million Jews, tucked away in their corner of the Mediterranean have completely destabilized 300 million Arabs. Give me a break.

Yes, believe it or not, Israel is part of the Palestinian problem and is one of the reasons, Syria, Iran, Hamas and Hizbullah all work together. Although their political views are diametrically opposed, they have a common enemy, Israel. There is US presence in the ME because of two reasons, the protection of Israel, and the maintenance of a constant supply of oil. Israel making peace and having economic and diplomatic links with Syria and all the Gulf States (which can be done by signing the Arab peace initiative), would isolate Iran, ensure your own peace and give more stability to the supply of oil. Everything is linked (even if you don’t want it to be) and your conflict with the Palestinians is at the centre of it.

Actually, they don’t. It has been a policy of the Israeli government since ’67 to annex the Golan. The Israeli public is overwhelmingly in favor of this. As for the US, they have no interest one way or another. The US wants Syria, a base and training ground for every terrorist group in the Middle East, contained. Once American negotiations with Iran commence, Syria will be thrown to the wolves. It is not at all certain that Assad will survive a US-Iranian partnership.

Yes they do. Even Netanyahu has privately conceded that he is willing to give back the Golan Heights. It is considered occupied territory under International Law and only Israel sees it as Israeli territory. Do you expect anyone to seriously believe that Syria is a terrorist haven, the same people that shelled a whole town killing 20,000 people after an Islamist uprising? Get real. It’s as unrealistic as the US and Iran making a deal. The US and Syria making a partnership is much more likely.

Israel must do nothing. It is in the Syrian interest to seek peace and make concessions, as the weaker party. The Golan are indivisible from Israel.

Yes it must. It is in Israeli interest to make peace with the Syrians, for the reasons I’ve stated. Syria can survive without making peace but the world (which sees the Golan Heights as Syrian territory) is losing patience and IF Israel resists giving back these territories, so will the US.

You have everything backwards. The Arabs are the ones who need to gain legitimacy from Jews. The Jews have all the legitimacy they need after 60 years of destroying Arab armies.

unable to make peace with its neigbours

Egypt and Jordan are not neighbors? Name one nation-state that has challenged Israeli sovereignty in 40 years.

You need a peace deal with Syria to show people around the world that they’re mistaken.

You want us to sacrifice security for the sake of perception among some misguided individuals? Again, this serves no credible purpose. If Jews start trying to appease any fantastical delusions of their enemies, we’ll be shooting ourselves in the head tomorrow as a compromise measure. Thanks but no thanks.

And as far as I know, there isn’t an economic blockade of Syria

It shows how little you known. The US has imposed a comprehensive sanctions regime on Syria, which has been supported and enforced by many Arab states. The Europeans trade with Iran too, so what? If America refuses to trade with you, things start going downhill. Syria has a collapsed, 1970s style economy. The Syrian regime is only able to maintain control on the basis of force and violence.

Israel is part of the problem, like it is part of nearly all the problems in the Middle-East.

Yes, 5 million Jews, tucked away in their corner of the Mediterranean have completely destabilized 300 million Arabs. Give me a break.

I can just as well say that Islam is “part of the problem, like it is part of nearly all the problems in the Middle-East.”

Or, Syria is “part of the problem, like it is part of nearly all the problems in the Middle-East.”

Or, Iran is “part of the problem, like it is part of nearly all the problems in the Middle-East.”

Israel is the reason why Iran, Syria, Hizbollah and Hamas are all allies.

That’s oversimplified nonsense. Iran developed proxies not to fight the Jews, but to undermine Sunni Arab regimes and develop leverage over the Americans in the region.

nearly all Israeli politicians disagree, as well as the US

Actually, they don’t. It has been a policy of the Israeli government since ’67 to annex the Golan. The Israeli public is overwhelmingly in favor of this. As for the US, they have no interest one way or another. The US wants Syria, a base and training ground for every terrorist group in the Middle East, contained. Once American negotiations with Iran commence, Syria will be thrown to the wolves. It is not at all certain that Assad will survive a US-Iranian partnership.

Israel must do nothing. It is in the Syrian interest to seek peace and make concessions, as the weaker party. The Golan are indivisible from Israel.