Should Israel give back the Golan Heights to Syria?

Question

Syria is among the most untrust worthy nations in the world is it not?

See: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_syria_1 Or is Olmert just giving a song and dance because he knows Syria will not negotiate in good faith so he puts the offer out there to sway world opinion his way (or at least US opinion)?

Good Luck!!!

Answer 1

Prior to World War II, as Hitler was flexing his muscles and demanding the annexation of Sudetenland, "impartial" people were urging Czechoslovakia to give up Sudetenland. Many of them said something along the lines of what EU Citizen just said: "one way of looking at it is that there are Germans living there who view themselves as German, so for that reason the Sudetenland belongs to Germany". Czechoslovakia was repeatedly lectured on how it could achieve a so-called "lasting peace" with the Nazi Germany if it only gave up what was "rightly German" and relocated its own citizens. That's what Czechoslovakia did -- it gave up Sudetenland. After that, what was left of Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Germany without compunction and the Czech lands proper were occupied by German troops and came to be ruled directly by the German state. Because THAT was Hitler's idea of a "lasting peace" all along.

I think we all know what Syria's idea of a "lasting peace" is with Israel and Jews.

Answer 2

Why should Israel do that? In the 1970s, new Jewish settlements were founded in the Golan Heights. In addition to its strategic importance, the Golan Heights is part of the Jordan River watershed which provides a significant portion of Israel's water supply. If Israel ever returns it, who can guarantee that Syria won't use it to attack Israel?

Israel captured the Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and again in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. War is always like a gamble. Syria lost in the 1967 and 1973 Wars, so why should Israel return something she has won for nothing?

Answer 3

Israel is prepared to barter for peace with Syria. best Minister start up prolonged Israeli regulation to the Golan many years in the past. The Golan has Jewish connections, it replaced into given by using mistake to Syria by using the former colonial powers, the Golan has large strategic fee for the defence of Israel, hence it could be a countrywide suicide to grant it up for a Chamberlain form of ineffective paper. it somewhat is truly worth to combat for it 2nd time on the negotiating table!

Answer 4

I read your the others comments, and i am sort of hurt by such ignorance and falseness in some responses. For the guy who suggested that Jews had lived in the land before they even knew what an Arab was I utterly wrong. Although i am Syrian not Arabic, the Philistines and other Canaanites already lived their for centuries. Now you ask how am I Syrian but not Arab, well before the Haribu (a considered malicious group of people from the area now known as Armenia) later Hebrew, moved in and conquered Arabian settlements in our Ancient Territories that belong to Pre-Arabs (Like those of Ancient Damascus). Remember that in the Bible it records the history of how the Israelites conquered the cities of the Holy land. If I'm not mistaken how can you say that we were here first if you had to conquer someone living there beforehand? So not only do the Jews not live their before anyone, neither have the Arabs, but in tradition it is Arab lands since my ancestors were peaceful with them and they settled earlier. In all fairness the only reason the members in the Golan Heights are even hostile is because they are mixed amongst Palestinians. Imagine a group of rebellious people from your Ancient Homeland was expelled (By Roman Officials, who were tired of rebellion and chaos that the Zealots created) and all of the sudden returned because some foreign nation (England) allows it. When a group of people are exposed to an oppressed group of people who were moved without rights, they too become hostile. One person had commented on how "no, because the residents would have to move". That's exactly why most of us have hatred or oppression. Think about it, that's like saying for Americans that the Native American Indian Tribes say that we were oppressed and were going to take over America now. I don't know about you but as an American I would most certainly say how does that work? It doesn't seem fair or logical does it? Ron Paul once said how the only reason any group of people have any problem is because of Occupation. Be it occupation of land, money, resources, people, our even of other humans' rights. I'm sorry but i greatly become displeased not when someone disagrees with my view on the state of Israel, but when they are uneducated about it and then make an assumption either because they're Zionists (no problems with you, but just try seeing every ones view first before you bring out your national pride) or American/United Nation Country's that are allied with the State.

So my answer is that it should of never ever even occurred, so what would be best would be to find a way to give them a Jewish state without removing the Thriving Cultures already present in the area.

Answer 5

Well one way of looking at it is that there are Syrian citizens living there who view themselves as syria, i think for that reason the Golan Heights belongs to Syria.

However i do realise the Heights are/where of strategic importance and caused Israel a headace before, therefore it should be returned to Syria as a demilitirized zone so as to never be a staging ground for an invasion/attack on Israel.

Such a deal would probably have to be overseen by a 3rd party ofcourse.

An interesting thing to note is that Israel and Syria are still technically in a "state of war"

Answer 6

No. When Syria had the Golan it was used as a platform from which the Syrians attacked the Israelis living below in kibbutzim etc.

Answer 7

The first thing they would do is move in and destroy anything of value. If a kid ruins a toy right off and doesn't respect it he doesn't get another from me.
This has all happened before you know and look at the result.
Syria doesn't want the land they just want to squeeze the Jew out of existence, don't let it happen, God is not going to like it.

For the Armenian. the American Native ( me) doesn't appreciate you confusing our situation with theirs. Totally different affair. I as many of my brothers have fought in American wars and would do so again, because we love our country. America. there are no American Native movements to wipe out the white man. thank God, as I am white unless you look close.
If you really know your bible then you know the question is really mute. If you don't know it please don't reference it.

Answer 8

NOOOOOOO. Israel should not give the Golan Heights!!!
That is my view also regarding Jerusalem - and unfortunately - they're talking about it - this should go to the vote of the people!!!

(By the way, I'm not a far right wing person, I believe that for peace sake, we do need to give the West Bank)

Answer 9

No. But Syria should give back the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein sent to them.

Answer 10

No, it is not good for the people to evacuate everytime Israel want to give back lands.