Israel Matzav

The Iraq Study Group report - James Baker tries to f**k the Jews

I'm sure you have all seen stories about the Iraq Study Group report, and since I am quite busy with work tonight, I am not going to rehash things that I am sure you have read elsewhere. But I do want to point out what has been highlighted here in Israel, but which is buried in the stories about the report in the US (I didn't find this mentioned in the New York Times' lead article, and it is buried in the middle of page 3 - out of 4 - in the Washington Post's lead article). The Post characterizes the part about Israel as follows:

The study group recommends that Washington engage Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian government in a new effort to negotiate Arab-Israeli peace. As a way to broker a regional settlement, it argues that Israel should return the Golan Heights to Syria, while Syria should stop supporting the radical Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

On this point, YNet quotes directly from the report:

"In the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israelis should return the Golan Heights, with a US security guarantee for Israel that could include an international force on theborder, including US troops if requested by both parties," the Iraq Study Group headed by James Baker and Lee Hamilton recommended.

In other words, the report recommends punishing America's friends by 'engaging' with its enemies to reach a pre-determined outcome.

We can only hope that the long list of conditions that was apparently imposed upon by Baker by others in the committee will remain unfulfilled - as they are likely to remain. I would not trust Assad even if he actually fulfilled all of these conditions, and you can bet that they will be whittled down as time goes on. YNet lists the following:

According to the report, the return of the Golan Heights to Syria will be subject to the fulfillment of a series of conditions by the Syrians in peace negotiations:

* Syria’s full adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of August 2006, which provides the framework for Lebanon to regain sovereign control over its territory.
* Syria’s full cooperation with all investigations into political assassinations in Lebanon, especially those of Rafik Hariri and Pierre Gemayel.
* A verifiable cessation of Syrian aid to Hizbullah and the use of Syrian territory for transshipment of Iranian weapons and aid to Hizbullah. (This step would do much to solve Israel ’s problem with Hizbullah.)
* Syria’s use of its influence with Hamas and Hizbullah for the release of the captured Israeli Defense Force soldiers.
* A verifiable cessation of Syrian efforts to undermine the democratically elected government of Lebanon.
* A verifiable cessation of arms shipments from or transiting through Syria for Hamas and other radical Palestinian groups.
* A Syrian commitment to help obtain from Hamas an acknowledgment of Israel’s right to exist. [What about Syria acknowledging Israel's 'right to exist'? CiJ]
* Greater Syrian efforts to seal its border with Iraq.

The report also predetermines an outcome for 'negotiations' with the 'Palestinians' that includes the following:

* Adherence to UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and to the principle of land for peace, which are the only bases for achieving peace.
* Strong support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to take the lead in preparing the way for negotiations with Israel.
* A major effort to move from the current hostilities by consolidating the ceasefire reached between the Palestinians and the Israelis in November 2006.
* Support for a Palestinian national unity government.
* Sustainable negotiations leading to a final peace settlement along the lines of President Bush’s two-state solution, which would address the key final status issues of borders, settlements, Jerusalem, the right of return, and the end of conflict.

The report also states in the Palestinian context that "the United States will not be able to achieve its goals in the Middle East unless the United States deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Where are the conditions that the 'Palestinians' have to fulfill? How about stopping terror and recognizing Israel?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:18 PM