Posted on 08/21/2006 8:19:00 AM PDT by garbageseeker
Syria is the "single most aggressive member of the axis of evil," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday, ruling out a resumption of negotiations with Damascus at this time.
"I am the last person who will say I want to negotiate with Syria," Olmert said in unusually harsh comments. In a visit to northern Israel, Olmert noted that rockets that hit the town in 34 days of Israel-Hizbullah fighting came from Syria.
According to the prime minister, "When Syria stops supporting terrorism, when it stops giving missiles to terror organizations, then we will be happy to negotiate with them."
His comments were made hours after Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said that he was in favor of withdrawing from the Golan Heights in return for true peace with Syria.
The former head of the Shin Bet told Army Radio, "We have paid similar territorial concessions in the past when we signed peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt."
"Any diplomatic initiative is preferred over war, whether in Syria or Lebanon," Dichter said. "With regards to Lebanon, conditions are even more welcoming than they are with Syria. Lebanon can today begin talks with Israel without the Syrians."
According to the minister, "Talks with Syria are legitimate. If there is someone to talk to on the other side, we should talk. Israel can initiate this or turn to a third party."
In response, Olmert said, "I recommend not to get carried away with any false hopes."
"We are not going into any adventure when terror is on their side," Olmert said of Syria. "We're not going into any negotiations until basic steps are taken which can be the basis for any negotiations."
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Syria certainly deserves it's place in the Axis of Evil.
Olmert however is a penned sheep, awaiting slaughter, and the single biggest disaster to hit Israeli politics in recent memory.
LOL
Bump
International Community Reaps Shame, Not Glory
By John E. Carey
August 21, 2006
Inside Lebanon—There is no government here. Nobody with which to make peace. The people that run this region are Hezbollah. The Lebanon Army is a joke. They themselves know they are interlopers here. They refuse to disarm Hezbollah. So the arms have disappeared. You are supposed to believe that peace can be achieved here.
You'd be wrong.
That is where Condi Rice, the President of the United States, John Bolton and one John Carey disagree. I am going to tell the Prime Minister of Israel to also disagree with the President of the United States. The "peace plan" the U.S. signed up for is only paper. It changes nothing. Unless the peace is full, enforceable and verifiable the Israelis should still choose war.
France and every other nation that volunteered to make peace possible reneged on the deal.
France said they would lead the peacekeeping: then volunteered 400 troops, mostly engineers.
Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech, "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred, and place this above God, religions and the prophets."
He added, "The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews."
This is Israel's dilemma.
Israel wants Hezbollah off its back. And Hezbollah has shown it has missiles that can pierce into Israel 42 miles and more. Killing Israelis indiscriminately. Israel may need a "buffer" into Hezbollahland some 42 miles. And international peacemakers with real muscle to enforce order. To keep peace. To prevent further missile launches and indiscriminate killing of Israelis.
You cannot make peace without sides. You cannot make peace without peacekeepers. There is only one side for peace here: Israel.
Israel faces an angry alliance: Hezbollah, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Even Kofi Annan at the UN has demonstrated a very anti-Israeli tone.
Now France has apparently throw in with the anti-Israel group.
Some peace agreement.
The President of the United States says “there is a way forward and the choice is theirs.”
Wrong.
The choice is now Israel’s. This is an existential struggle for Israel. They get to cut the deck and deal the cards, in my book.
In fact, the choice is Mr. Ehud Olmert’s and the people of Israel.
Syria is the "single most aggressive member of the axis of evil," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday, ruling out a resumption of negotiations with Damascus at this time.
"I am the last person who will say I want to negotiate with Syria," Olmert said in unusually harsh comments. In a visit to northern Israel, Olmert noted that rockets that hit the town in 34 days of Israel-Hizbullah fighting came from Syria.
According to the prime minister, "When Syria stops supporting terrorism, when it stops giving missiles to terror organizations, then we will be happy to negotiate with them."
On the divide between the terrorists and the west, President Bush said at a news conference, August 21, "This is the fundamental question of the twenty-first century."
All the “parties” in the Middle East except Israel want the Israelis pushed into the sea. Tonight we stand in Lebanon. But in fact we stand with Israel.
Also from the Jerusalem Post.
Paging Diane Feinstein! CNN Late Edition 8/20/06:" I don't agree with this notion of only talking with those who agree with you."
Great article!!!!! I will have that bookmarked
We must agree at least on this!!
I liked the ones C&F did of Arafat after the IDF took out Rantisi and Saruman-in-a-wheelchair.
"Check, please!"
Welcome to Free Republic.
I'm going to give Mr. Olmert the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he was misquoted.
Youve lost the right to be heard Mr. Carter..er..I mean Olmert.
I stand by you 100 percent on this
Do you also think the world is flat?
A Liberal Dreamer.
Iran is the single most aggressive member of the Axis of Evil.
Syria is largely Sunni, which has the Saudi's and other Sunni nations quite upset as Syria continues to split wood and carry water for Iran's Shiites.
There is only one thing that has been purchased with this "ceasefire" and that is time.
What will the pro-Israeli forces and nations do with that time?
We know what Hezbollah and Syria and Iran will do with the time: Hudna to Nuclear Hudna.
The people of Israel must use this time wisely, for it is likely their last chance, for nuclear Shiism is on the horizon.
Olmerts liberal dreaming must come to an abrupt end, whatever it takes, including a military coupe if necessary.
( No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
I agree.
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