Israel Matzav

Syria's ambassador to the US on Israel-Syria 'negotiations'

This is a May 21 interview on al-Jazeera with Imad Moustapha, Syria's ambassador to the US. He tells al-Jazeera how much 'progress' has been made in talks with Israel over the Golan Heights.



Note that he says that they won't even talk to Israel unless Israel guarantees that it will give Syria the Golan Heights back to the June 4, 1967 borders. Note that he says that's not a 'precondition' or a 'condition.' It's the 'basis' of the 'peace process.' Everything else, says Mustapha, can be negotiated. What else is there? Whether the Syrians will actually make 'peace?'

Note that 'it's not about concessions.' In other words, the Syrians are willing to give nothing in return.

By the way, if the Rabin deposit ever existed, it certainly cannot be regarded as binding.

In any event, these 'negotiations' are a farce. If Israel were to give the Syrians the Golan on this basis, we would be committing suicide. We'd have Syria and Iran shooting down into the Galilee and cutting off our water supply in no time. Like the 'Palestinians,' the Syrians believe that they can dictate terms of surrender to Israel. The Syrians lost wars to Israel in 1967 and 1973, both of which they started. Losers don't dictate terms of surrender. Winners do.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:40 AM