Syria hosts the exiled head of Hamas, and has done so for years. Syria arms Israel’s enemies in Lebanon, and has done that for years. Syria regularly holds what is, in effect, conventions of terrorists so that they may plot against Israel.
And Ehud Olmert says he’ll hold peace talks with Syria with no preconditions. There’s no need for Syria to cease aiding and abetting the murder of Israelis before Israel will officially talk about giving back the Golan Heights.
“We want to make peace… we are willing to make peace with Syria unconditionally and without demands. I have a lot of respect for the Syrian leader and the Syrian policy,” Olmert said in a meeting with Russian reporters at his Jerusalem residence.
This follows a statement by Olmert on how much he “respects” Bashar Assad. Really? Respects a mass-murderer of Israelis and Lebanese, as well as a man who contributes to the murder of Americans?
What is wrong with this man? And what is wrong with Israelis that they can’t get a no-confidence vote on him and give someone else a chance to run the nation? He “respects” a murderous dictator who is trying to destroy Israel? I’m sorry, but Godwin’s Law is simply begging to be invoked here.
“No preconditions” will be rejected by Syria because they have always insisted that the Golan Heights be returned before any peace talks start. They have often spoken about talks without preconditions and then pulled the Golan return precondition out at the penultimate moment.
If Olmert really wanted to pressure the Syrian Baathist regime, he should simply say that there is no credible partner available in Syria and that Israel will conduct itself accordingly.
chsw
If Syria refuses to negotiate with “no preconditions,” Olmert scores a point with World opinion, since it makes Syria look like the bad guy. Good Public Relations move, actually. Sad, but true…
Robert
It doesn’t MATTER what Israel does during or before talks. The media will paint it as Israel’s fault when they ultimately fail.
The Golan Heights are a prime example. When Israel says no conditions, and Syria pulls the Heights, the MEDIA will claim that Israel is wrong because they shouldn’t have it in the first place.
Why is it that “right of conquest” is okay for ANY other nation but Israel?
This would be funny if it wasn’t true.
Please please tell me there is a punch line in that article…. Please it has to be a joke!
Peace for peace, not land for peace. During the Mandate, the Golan was part of Palestine, Eretz Yisrael. If that’s not OK by Assad, the next foray, Israel can drop bigger bombs.
It’s all beginning to make sense. Why inflict the “Palestinians” on Jordan, which has maintained the peace with Israel (without having gotten land as a bribe to do so) when they can be transferred to Syria instead. Syria houses their leaders, let them take all the rest.
By the way, I recall “the other Ehud” said he respected Assad, too, when he was PM. Why do these guys think diplomacy requires fawning?
I suppose he actually means “The idiot has weapons pointed at us with his finger on the button. As long as he does, I will treat him like Menachem Begin treated Dhimmi Carter”.