Israel Matzav

Assad: 'Olmert offered the entire Golan'

In an interview with Italy's La Repubblica, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claims that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert offered him the entire Golan Heights in exchange for 'peace' in the days leading up to Operation Cast Lead (link translated from Italian).

She sees a resumption of negotiations with Israel?

"In linea di principio dovrei dirvi di sì, infatti noi siriani non scommettiamo sul tipo di governo in Israele. I termini di riferimento della pace sono chiari a tutti: la Conferenza di Madrid, le risoluzioni Onu a partire dalla 242, la formula della "terra in cambio della pace", cioè la piena restituzione alla Siria delle Alture del Golan. Basta volerli applicare, noi siamo pronti. Però...." "In principle I should say so, in fact, we bet the Syrians are not the type of government in Israel. The terms of reference of the peace are clear to all: the Madrid Conference, the UN resolutions from the 242, the formula of" land for peace ", ie full refund Syria of the Golan Heights. Simply we want to apply, we are ready. But ...."

Però, signor presidente? But, Mr President?

"Vedo allontanarsi il traguardo. Non sono preoccupato al pensiero di Netanyahu, ma della svolta a destra della società israeliana, che l'ascesa di Netanyahu rispecchia. Ecco il maggiore ostacolo alla pace. E dire che siamo già stati a un soffio dall'accordo". "I see the away goal. I'm not worried at the thought of Netanyahu, but turning to the right of Israeli society, which reflects the rise of Netanyahu. This is the greatest obstacle to peace. And to say that we are already at a breath by ".

Quando? When? Prima della guerra di Gaza? Before the war in Gaza?

"Proprio così. Olmert aveva fatto sapere al premier turco Erdogan d'essere disposto a restituire le Alture del Golan. Noi siamo entrati nel negoziato. Mancavano i dettagli finali sulla linea del 1967. Poi, ci fu la notte al telefono". "Precisely. Olmert had informed the turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for being willing to surrender the Golan Heights. We entered the negotiations. There is little detail on the end of 1967. Then there was the night on the phone."

Ce la racconti. Will tales.

"Erdogan era in linea da Istanbul, Olmert a cena da lui, in un'altra stanza, e io qui a Damasco. Voleva parlarmi con urgenza. Restava un solo ostacolo ai colloqui diretti: l'accettazione da parte d'Israele di un documento in cui si delineava la linea del 1967, attraverso sei punti geografici, fra l'altro lungo il Lago di Tiberiade e il Giordano". "Erdogan was in line from Istanbul, Olmert to dinner by him in another room, and I am here in Damascus. He wanted to talk urgently. It was just one obstacle to direct talks, the acceptance by Israel of a document which outlined the approach of 1967, through six points of geography, among other things along the Lake of Tiberias and the Jordan. "

E poi, com'è andata? And then, as we go?

"Siamo stati al telefono ore e ore. Olmert era sfuggente, gli chiesi tramite Erdogan una risposta chiara. Lui propose di rinviare la decisione di pochi giorni, per consultarsi col suo governo. Ma poi, il quarto giorno, hanno sferrato la guerra di Gaza. Un'altra occasione mancata. E' allora che la Turchia ha perso le staffe con Israele: s'è sentita ingannata". "We were on the phone hours and hours. Olmert was evasive, Erdogan asked by a clear answer. He proposed to postpone the decision of a few days to consult with his government. But then, the fourth day, they launched the war in Gaza . Another missed opportunity. E 'then that Turkey has lost the brackets with Israel has been felt deceived. "

Although I believe Olmert is certainly capable of giving away the Golan, this story seems a little too convenient for Assad. It's a way for him to claim that he was promised the entire Golan Heights - including the parts Syria encroached on between 1948-67 - by Olmert in the waning days of Olmert's government (when Olmert could not legally make a deal) and for Assad to use that 'promise' to try to bind the incoming Netanyahu government. Assad has pulled this before: He claimed that both Yitzchak Rabin and Binyamin Netanyahu offered him the entire Golan (Netanyahu denies it). For that matter, he claimed that Olmert offered it to him too. I don't buy this.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:56 PM