Tuesday, January 16

BREAKING: Israel-Syria cut secret peace deal (UPDATED)

Both Israeli and Syrian officials have strongly denied the following report. Go here for more.


Haaretz is reporting:
In a series of secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement between Israel and Syria.

The main points of the understandings are as follows:

  • An agreement of principles will be signed between the two countries, and following the fulfillment of all commitments, a peace agreement will be signed.

  • As part of the agreement on principles, Israel will withdraw from the Golan Heights to the lines of 4 June, 1967. The timetable for the withdrawal remained open: Syria demanded the pullout be carried out over a five-year period, while Israel asked for the withdrawal to be spread out over 15 years.

  • At the buffer zone, along Lake Kinneret, a park will be set up for joint use by Israelis and Syrians. The park will cover a significant portion of the Golan Heights. Israelis will be free to access the park and their presence will not be dependent on Syrian approval. More details here.
  • Text of draft.

    Map.

    Northern Israel
    Israel: Northern Hula Valley, looking east towards Golan Heights. (Photo: Dave Bender)
    Sea of Galilee
    Israel: Eastern bank of Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), looking west
    towards Tiberias, Arbel areas. (Photo: Dave Bender)
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    1 comment:

    Michael said...

    Now why does that look like a really bad idea to me...?

    Oh, yeah, because Syria has a history of not honoring agreements, and of using the Golan to try and divert Israel's water...
    When they're not using it as a base to shell Israeli towns.

    I hope this is all just a bunch of hooey, but with the Olmert gov't, who knows?

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