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| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 387009
4/23/2008 12:53 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
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| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 1:16 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
15:58 CIA confirms that Syrian site Israel struck in Sept. `06 was nuclear facility (Haaretz)
[ link to www.haaretz.com]
Lebanon firing on IAF jets, CIA confirming Israeli strike on Syrian nuke facility, peace talk with Hamas and Syria . . . hard to get a good feel for where this is going
When it rains it pours. I am extremely busy on matters of national importance. Worse yet, there is much mystic of what is happenning in the middleeast.
I have yet to reach my sources on this matter but, As there has been no reaction from the Hezbollah, I have to beleve that Israel was conducting its low-level overflights, buzzing the Hezbollah and taking photos of missiles. Arab media tends to exagerate matters. If the exageration came from the Hezbollah, then one would think they will use this as a pretext to attack back. The overflights are necessary to remind the Hezbollah and Syria whom is in charge of the region, but they create risks. The flights tend to occur when Israeli military feels it needs to prove a point if they feel things are getting too serious by the Hezbollah and Syria in preparationas of a terror attack or initial military attack on Israel.
In regards to the nuke facility, Syria and the HEzbollah do not want this to be an embarassment ot them. They better thnk of a way to get the media attention off of them. Why not dscuss that Israel wants to cede the Golan. Also, why not create a skirmish across the border so that the media will ignore the Syrian plant and also so that the Islamic fanatics of Syria wll not revolt due to Assad's failure to counter-attack Israel. THAT amy be what we see coming very soon. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 272356
4/23/2008 1:41 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
its looking less and less like an IAF strike has occured, or else where is the response from Hezbollah?
With that being said, the same thing could be said about the Sept 6th 07' strike, where was the Syrian retaliation? Yet, we all know that strike did indeed occur |
| Señor Ding-Dong
User ID: 421579
4/23/2008 1:51 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
its looking less and less like an IAF strike has occured, or else where is the response from Hezbollah?
With that being said, the same thing could be said about the Sept 6th 07' strike, where was the Syrian retaliation? Yet, we all know that strike did indeed occur Quoting: Anonymous Coward 272356
When push comes to shove, Syria will not retaliate - because they know they will get their asses handed to them by the Israelis. Unfortunately for Assad's heroes, they do not have the luxury of hiding behind women & children - like the hezbollah 'warriors' when they won their 'victory' in '06.. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 272356
4/23/2008 1:57 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
[link to www.jpost.com]
Concerns mount ahead of US briefing on IAF strike in Syria
Fearing an escalation in tensions with Syria, defense officials reiterated their opposition Wednesday to a planned intelligence briefing at Congress on Thursday that will divulge details on Israel's airstrike against what foreign media reports have claimed was a North Korea nuclear reactor being built in northeastern Syria.
The fuel tanks allegedly found in Turkey near the Syrian-Turkish border after the Israeli airstrike.
Photo: Courtesy www.huriyett.com
Slideshow: Pictures of the week The Senate and House intelligence committees were scheduled to be briefed on Thursday, and several other panels such as the Senate Armed Services Committee were expected to be briefed as well.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that US intelligence officials will tell the committees that North Korea was helping Syria build a plutonium-fueled reactor. Following the September 6 airstrike, the site was razed and wiped clean.
Since the strike, Israel has refused to publicly reveal details on the site and the military censor has imposed tight restrictions on details the Israeli press is allowed to publish.
Top defense officials expressed concern Wednesday that the details revealed in the congressional hearing would "embarrass" Syrian President Bashar Assad - who has refused to confirm reports on the nature of the site - and might create pressure from within his government to respond militarily against Israel.
"Syria thinks it owes us for what happened in September," a senior defense official said, adding that the congressional hearing could also force Assad to reject peace talks with Israel as an act of leadership in face of growing internal criticism.
Pictures from Syrian TV of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands, which the Syrians say was the target of the IAF strike.
Photo: Channel 2
"His public embarrassment will minimize the chances of him responding positively to the idea of peace talks with Israel," another official said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak transmitted these concerns last week to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whose office refused to comment Wednesday on the upcoming congressional hearing.
One senior Bush administration official said Thursday's briefing was scheduled because intelligence agencies had been deluged for months with congressional requests for information about North Korean activity in Syria and the Israeli airstrike and felt it was now time to brief lawmakers.
The official said, however, that there were concerns that the revelations, if leaked or made public, could encourage opponents of the administration's attempts to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. US diplomats are pressing North Korea to come clean about its nuclear cooperation with Syria as part of those talks but have had little success.
Another official said Thursday's presentation would be a compilation of intelligence from more than one source that has been carefully analyzed over a period of months and by its nature comes with caveats.
Under an agreement reached last year with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, the North is required to give a full accounting of its nuclear programs, including whether it spread nuclear technology.
North Korea claims it gave the nuclear declaration to the United States in November, but US officials say the North never produced a "complete and correct" declaration.
The congressional briefing also comes the same week a US delegation went to North Korea to press the government for a detailed list of its nuclear programs, the latest sticking point at international nuclear disarmament talks.
The leader of the delegation is expected to report back to Washington on Friday.
The United States recently has stepped back from its push for a detailed declaration addressing the North's alleged secret uranium enrichment program and nuclear cooperation with Syria. Now, the United States says it wants the North to simply acknowledge the American concerns and then set up a system to verify that the country does not continue such activity. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 421743
4/23/2008 2:13 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
How's the non-war coming along? |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 272356
4/23/2008 2:49 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
FWIW - it's interesting to note where this statement was made from - Tehran. I would think the last thing the Iranians want is Syrian-Israeli peace
[link to www.ynetnews.com]
Syrian FM: If Israel is serious, nothing should stop peace talks
Published: 04.23.08, 21:07 / Israel News
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem met with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, in Tehran on Wednesday.
During a press conference in the Iranian capital Muallem said, ""If Israel is serious and wants to achieve peace, then there is nothing that should stop peace talks from being renewed." (Dudi Cohen) |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 3:14 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
FWIW - it's interesting to note where this statement was made from - Tehran. I would think the last thing the Iranians want is Syrian-Israeli peace
[ link to www.ynetnews.com]
Syrian FM: If Israel is serious, nothing should stop peace talks
Published: 04.23.08, 21:07 / Israel News
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem met with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, in Tehran on Wednesday.
During a press conference in the Iranian capital Muallem said, ""If Israel is serious and wants to achieve peace, then there is nothing that should stop peace talks from being renewed." (Dudi Cohen)
Syria actually could gain the Golan back and then use it to their advantage to more quickly move forces not Israel during the next war, but, I am sure there will be a war this year. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 387009
4/23/2008 3:26 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military man can you give any info on why Hezbollah has not struck to revenge their commanders death. It appears they are scared to do so. They have to do something or else Iran will get ticked and they will look weak wouldnt you agree. Also regarding the nuke site info coming out by the U.S. you think Syria or for that matter North Korea would do something bold to destract the attention to elsewhere. Tomorrow is the day that congress finds out what was really going on between the two countries. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 387009
4/23/2008 3:26 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military man can you give any info on why Hezbollah has not struck to revenge their commanders death. It appears they are scared to do so. They have to do something or else Iran will get ticked and they will look weak wouldnt you agree. Also regarding the nuke site info coming out by the U.S. you think Syria or for that matter North Korea would do something bold to destract the attention to elsewhere. Tomorrow is the day that congress finds out what was really going on between the two countries. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 387009
4/23/2008 3:26 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military man can you give any info on why Hezbollah has not struck to revenge their commanders death. It appears they are scared to do so. They have to do something or else Iran will get ticked and they will look weak wouldnt you agree. Also regarding the nuke site info coming out by the U.S. you think Syria or for that matter North Korea would do something bold to destract the attention to elsewhere. Tomorrow is the day that congress finds out what was really going on between the two countries. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 387009
4/23/2008 3:26 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Sorry about the multiple posts |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 4:28 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military man can you give any info on why Hezbollah has not struck to revenge their commanders death. It appears they are scared to do so. They have to do something or else Iran will get ticked and they will look weak wouldnt you agree. Also regarding the nuke site info coming out by the U.S. you think Syria or for that matter North Korea would do something bold to destract the attention to elsewhere. Tomorrow is the day that congress finds out what was really going on between the two countries. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 387009
Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the underling Syria, have plans. As of today, those plans are still in an effort to attack Israel this year. Israel's action to pacify Syria with the Golan is just that. Olmert believes that he can entice Syria to exit the Iranian chokehold and make peace with Israel and sever ties with the enemies planning on attacking Israel this year. Though we may all get a warm fuzzy feeling that all is actually well in the middleeast as their is talk of a ceasefire with Hamas and there is talk of peace talks with Abbas and Israel is willing to cede the Golan, nothing is further from the truth. ALL IS NOT WELL and the media and maybe the Israeli leadership is only detracting attention from the actual plans that are in place to attack Israel.
My assesment is that the breakout of hostilities could come tomorrow or even in October, but it will be this year. My sources say Syria would like to get out of the crosshairs of the media on nukes NOW. Look for some increase in tension in the next few days perhaps even a leak on more troops or an Israeli overflight (oh, already done today)or a terror attack.
By the way, the Syrian news of the golan offer did come from Iran today. Iran will not stand for this and they will make sure that things are revved up some more. In fact, the subliminal message from Syria is that though Israel has offered the Golan, that is not enough (look I am in Iran and we allowed the reporter to ask this question just so that Israel will get the true message that I am in Iran and Iran would not permit me to agree to anything - come back with a better offer! And by the way, am loading checmical weapons on my scuds to use against my niggest enemy [YOU]). |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 272356
4/23/2008 4:29 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
FWIW - it's interesting to note where this statement was made from - Tehran. I would think the last thing the Iranians want is Syrian-Israeli peace
[ link to www.ynetnews.com]
Syrian FM: If Israel is serious, nothing should stop peace talks
Published: 04.23.08, 21:07 / Israel News
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem met with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, in Tehran on Wednesday.
During a press conference in the Iranian capital Muallem said, ""If Israel is serious and wants to achieve peace, then there is nothing that should stop peace talks from being renewed." (Dudi Cohen)
Syria actually could gain the Golan back and then use it to their advantage to more quickly move forces not Israel during the next war, but, I am sure there will be a war this year.
i seriously doubt the Israelis give the Golan back without a pledge from the Syrians to keep it demilitarized. If even one tank were to cross over into the Golan I almost guarantee the Israelis would call it an act of war and take the Golan back over |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 417589
4/23/2008 4:39 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military man can you give any info on why Hezbollah has not struck to revenge their commanders death. It appears they are scared to do so. They have to do something or else Iran will get ticked and they will look weak wouldnt you agree. Also regarding the nuke site info coming out by the U.S. you think Syria or for that matter North Korea would do something bold to destract the attention to elsewhere. Tomorrow is the day that congress finds out what was really going on between the two countries.
Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the underling Syria, have plans. As of today, those plans are still in an effort to attack Israel this year. Israel's action to pacify Syria with the Golan is just that. Olmert believes that he can entice Syria to exit the Iranian chokehold and make peace with Israel and sever ties with the enemies planning on attacking Israel this year. Though we may all get a warm fuzzy feeling that all is actually well in the middleeast as their is talk of a ceasefire with Hamas and there is talk of peace talks with Abbas and Israel is willing to cede the Golan, nothing is further from the truth. ALL IS NOT WELL and the media and maybe the Israeli leadership is only detracting attention from the actual plans that are in place to attack Israel.
My assesment is that the breakout of hostilities could come tomorrow or even in October, but it will be this year. My sources say Syria would like to get out of the crosshairs of the media on nukes NOW. Look for some increase in tension in the next few days perhaps even a leak on more troops or an Israeli overflight (oh, already done today)or a terror attack.
By the way, the Syrian news of the golan offer did come from Iran today. Iran will not stand for this and they will make sure that things are revved up some more. In fact, the subliminal message from Syria is that though Israel has offered the Golan, that is not enough (look I am in Iran and we allowed the reporter to ask this question just so that Israel will get the true message that I am in Iran and Iran would not permit me to agree to anything - come back with a better offer! And by the way, am loading checmical weapons on my scuds to use against my niggest enemy [YOU]). Quoting: Military Man 421700
I dont get that part? |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 4:41 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
OOPS, lets try that again in an edited version.
By the way, the Syrian news of the golan offer did come from Iran today. Iran will not stand for this and they will make sure that things are revved up some more. In fact, the subliminal message from Syria is that though Israel has offered the Golan, that is not enough (look I am in Iran and we allowed the reporter to ask this question just so that Israel will get the true message that I am in Iran and Iran would not permit me to agree to anything - come back with a better offer though will never agree! And by the way, Hezbollah is being armed by me and Iran, I am loading chemical weapons on my scuds to use against my biggest enemy [YOU], and if I get a chance, I will get a new nuke to use on you very soon, love Assad). |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 417589
4/23/2008 4:48 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
a bit better but got the point
Israeli special ops are super sneaky ..... you think they might have taken all of Sadams wmd's that were in syria back into Israel? |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 4:49 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
i seriously doubt the Israelis give the Golan back without a pledge from the Syrians to keep it demilitarized. If even one tank were to cross over into the Golan I almost guarantee the Israelis would call it an act of war and take the Golan back over
That is true, such as the Sinai with Egypt. However, if there were no Israeli army in the way of Syria, the Golan being militarily free would be no problem for Assad. Assad could then sprint his troops across the Golan without interference then coming down the plataeu into Israel much quicker than having to cross a line of tank mines, troops with anti-tank weapons, and opposing tanks along the entire Golan Front. |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 5:06 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
a bit better but got the point
Israeli special ops are super sneaky ..... you think they might have taken all of Sadams wmd's that were in syria back into Israel? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 417589
Not today. Maybe a year ago. Israel may have bombed the hell out of those sites in 2006. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 417589
4/23/2008 5:22 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
a bit better but got the point
Israeli special ops are super sneaky ..... you think they might have taken all of Sadams wmd's that were in syria back into Israel?
Not today. Maybe a year ago. Israel may have bombed the hell out of those sites in 2006. Quoting: Military Man 421700
Wait are you saying ISRAEL eliminated the WMD'S in sYRia on 06.... but wouldnt that have set off a massive nuclear explosion or did israel seize all of the in the raid in tact?
how many are there or was there or left that they did or didnt take? |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 6:13 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Wait are you saying ISRAEL eliminated the WMD'S in sYRia on 06.... but wouldnt that have set off a massive nuclear explosion or did israel seize all of the in the raid in tact?
how many are there or was there or left that they did or didnt take?
Most arms were said to be moved to the Bekka Valley in Lebanon. Israel bombed the area, but they could not get troops up past the Litni river and so they could not recover the large trailers. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 417589
4/23/2008 6:15 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Wait are you saying ISRAEL eliminated the WMD'S in sYRia on 06.... but wouldnt that have set off a massive nuclear explosion or did israel seize all of the in the raid in tact?
how many are there or was there or left that they did or didnt take?
Most arms were said to be moved to the Bekka Valley in Lebanon. Israel bombed the area, but they could not get troops up past the Litni river and so they could not recover the large trailers. Quoting: Military Man 421700
So why wasnt there a nuclear blast =/?
and how did you ever end up on this site ??? do you get caught at work?
i found it thru good and landed on one your thread lol |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 421830
4/23/2008 6:16 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the underling Syria, have plans. As of today, those plans are still in an effort to attack Israel this year. Israel's action to pacify Syria with the Golan is just that. Olmert believes that he can entice Syria to exit the Iranian chokehold and make peace with Israel and sever ties with the enemies planning on attacking Israel this year. Quoting: Military Man 421700
So now the long-ballyhooed war is vaguely sometime "this year", dumbfucks?
What happened to Feb, Mar, and April????  |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 417589
4/23/2008 6:21 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the underling Syria, have plans. As of today, those plans are still in an effort to attack Israel this year. Israel's action to pacify Syria with the Golan is just that. Olmert believes that he can entice Syria to exit the Iranian chokehold and make peace with Israel and sever ties with the enemies planning on attacking Israel this year.
So now the long-ballyhooed war is vaguely sometime "this year", dumbfucks?
What happened to Feb, Mar, and April????
:D welcome to the national enquiere of Israel wars lol ;) |
| Military Man
User ID: 421700
4/23/2008 6:23 PM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Read the first posting from me.
Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the underling Syria, have plans. As of today, those plans are still in an effort to attack Israel this year. Israel's action to pacify Syria with the Golan is just that. Olmert believes that he can entice Syria to exit the Iranian chokehold and make peace with Israel and sever ties with the enemies planning on attacking Israel this year.
So now the long-ballyhooed war is vaguely sometime "this year", dumbfucks?
What happened to Feb, Mar, and April????
:D welcome to the national enquiere of Israel wars lol ;) Quoting: Anonymous Coward 417589 |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 262098
4/24/2008 1:26 AM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
i seriously doubt the Israelis give the Golan back without a pledge from the Syrians to keep it demilitarized. If even one tank were to cross over into the Golan I almost guarantee the Israelis would call it an act of war and take the Golan back over
That is true, such as the Sinai with Egypt. However, if there were no Israeli army in the way of Syria, the Golan being militarily free would be no problem for Assad. Assad could then sprint his troops across the Golan without interference then coming down the plataeu into Israel much quicker than having to cross a line of tank mines, troops with anti-tank weapons, and opposing tanks along the entire Golan Front. Quoting: Military Man 421700
I see the point you are making, but the Israeli airforce would put some serious dents in any Syrian armored advances across the Golan even if unopposed by Israeli armor. The IAF would see them coming from a mile a way, slow them up in order to mobilize their armored forces, which i have no doubt would take back over the Golan and (hopefully) never cede it again. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 415225
4/24/2008 9:24 AM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
-Here comes the promised response from Hamas to all the cease fire talk as of late. I don't think this is going to end well
Hamas delegation to meet head of Egyptian intelligence in Cairo
Published: 04.24.08, 15:33 / Israel News
Members of the Hamas delegation, headed by Former Palestinian FM Mahmoud al-Zahar and Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siam, are meeting head of Egyptian intelligence, Gen. Omar Suleiman Thursday in Cairo.
The delegation members are expected to submit to Suleiman their proposal for cease-fire with Israel. (Ali Waked)
[link to www.ynetnews.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 415225
4/24/2008 9:25 AM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Don't be afraid of peace with Syria
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Syria, axis of evil
Peace with Syria is once again knocking at our door, and it even seems to be meeting with a less-frosty reception on the Israeli side. The time is ripe for negotiations with Syria, especially since U.S. President George W. Bush's reign is drawing to a close, and among his potential successors, whether Democrat or Republican, there is a willingness to negotiate with Bashar Assad instead of boycotting him.
John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all see a peace agreement between Israel and Syria as a recipe for relieving tension in the region. Removing Syria from the axis of evil might shuffle the Middle Eastern deck once again, breaking alliances and creating new interests. Israel can reap greater security from a new situation of that kind.
There seems to be a need to repeat, over and over, this basic fact: Nothing contributes to Israel's security more than a peace accord. Before the protests of solidarity with the Golan Heights begin, it should be emphasized that withdrawal from the Golan in exchange for peace is endorsed not only by bleeding hearts, but by distinctly security-minded figures. The supporters of the Golan are West Bank settlers, like Golan resident Effi Eitam, who see any withdrawal as a national catastrophe; parties that gain strength by sowing security-related fears, such as Israel Beiteinu; those with economic interests in the region, hikers, bird-watchers, wine connoisseurs and winemakers; and mainly the people of the past, who still consider the lookout point on Mount Hermon to be "Israel's eyes," even though those eyes did not prove a very effective source of warning in 1973. Today, neither advance warning nor deterrence rely on the "Alpinists" (the elite IDF unit trained for snow operations), and the missile war expected in the future is not affected by natural boundaries, whether of the flowing or the ascending kind.
Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu have all supported withdrawing from the Golan Heights in exchange for peace and security arrangements, and they all worked to obtain such an agreement. Whether or not the current government is capable of carrying out a historical move that entails territorial concessions is a question of leadership ability. Peace is not a commodity in high demand when the border is quiet, but peace with Syria might open up the possibility of regional peace by changing the balance of interests in the area.
If there is truth in recent reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent Assad, through the Turkish prime minister, a message concerning his willingness to withdraw from all of the Golan Heights in exchange for peace, it is clear that most of the negotiations will not involve the withdrawal itself, but rather the attendant security arrangements.
In an article in the newspaper al-Hayat, published in London, Dr. Fawzi Shoaibi, head of the Data and Strategic Studies Centre in Syria and a close consultant of Assad, writes, "The time has come to break through the Syrian-Israeli channel." Assad himself said in July 2007 that he was waiting for Israel to make an official and public announcement of its willingness to withdraw from the entire Golan Heights, so that the talks could focus only on the security arrangements.
The cost of peace with Syria has been known for years, and there is no reason to be alarmed by it. The security advantages of peace are greater than the strategic value of the Golan Heights. The problem is that even within Kadima, Olmert's party, it is hard to locate sufficient support for this welcome move by the prime minister.
[link to www.haaretz.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 415225
4/24/2008 10:12 AM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
Military Man - what's the deal? Reading this article it sounds like a short term cease fire is about to be agreed upon. You hearing anything on your end whether this is legit??
Hamas official says group will tell Egypt it accepts Gaza truce
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags: Hamas, Gaza Strip, Egypt
Hamas will tell Egyptian mediators on Thursday that it is prepared to accept a truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip with a timetable for extending it to the West Bank, a Palestinian official close to the talks said.
"Hamas's position is that they agree to a calm in Gaza and the West Bank but it would begin in Gaza at this stage and then apply to the West Bank after an agreed and specified period of time," said the official, who declined to be named.
Hamas, which had previously demanded that any truce apply to both Gaza and the West Bank simultaneously, was meeting Egyptian mediators on Thursday in Cairo, the official said.
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He said any truce would depend on Israel opening all of Gaza's border crossings and halting all military action in the Hamas-run territory, adding the Islamist group had backing from other Palestinian militant factions.
A Hamas delegation was to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo on Thursday, a member of the Islamist group said.
The delegation, headed by senior official Mahmoud Zahar, will give Egypt detailed proposals on the cease-fire, said spokesman Taher al-Nono.
Hamas sources said earlier Wednesday that their organization is expected to accept Egypt's cease-fire proposal, under which fighting with Israel will be suspended only in Gaza. However, Hamas is likely to condition its consent on the cease-fire expanding in a few months to cover the West Bank as well.
According to the proposal, Israel will refrain from attacking Hamas's people during the temporary cease-fire - or tahdiyeh - in Gaza, even in the event of terror attacks in the West Bank or Israel.
The Rafah crossing into Egypt is to be opened, along with cargo crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip. In return, Hamas will ensure there is no rocket fire or any other armed operation against Israel.
Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Wednesday that Hamas is prepared to offer Israel a long-term cease-fire, or hudna, in return for an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and right of return for refugees - without recognizing Israel.
[link to www.haaretz.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 415225
4/24/2008 10:45 AM | | Re: War Thread - The Official Israel v. Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas War Thread 2008. | Quote |
-looking more and more like a cease fire is going to be reached between Israel and Hamas
Hamas to tell Egypt will accept Gaza truce
Published: 04.24.08, 17:07 / Israel News
Hamas will tell Egyptian mediators on Thursday it is prepared to accept a truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip with a timetable for extending it to the West Bank, a Palestinian official close to the talks said.
The official, who declined to be named, said any truce would depend on Israel opening all of Gaza's border crossings and halting all military action in the Strip, adding that the group had backing from other Palestinian factions. (Reuters)
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