Baker report: Israel must withdraw from Golan

[cali]

WASHINGTON – The Baker-Hamilton report submitted Wednesday evening to US President George W. Bush marks a change in the American policy regarding the Middle East, particularly on the Israeli-Syrian channel.

Bipartisan Iraq Study Group calls for direct talks between Israel, Syria as part of revived US commitment to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace 'on all fronts.' Report also recommends that US forces begin to withdraw from combat in Iraq, calls for new diplomatic, political push to improve 'grave and deteriorating' situation

"In the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israeli sshould return the Golan Heights, with a US security guarantee for Israel that could include an international force on theborder, including US troops if requested by both parties," the Iraq Study Group headed by James Baker and Lee Hamilton recommended.

According to the report, the return of the Golan Heights to Syria will be subject to the fulfillment of a series of conditions by the Syrians in peace negotiations:

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3336966,00.html

[pooja]

1. Why are we to police the gate? Do we have to loan our soldiers out

to that section of the world... many people hate us.. I don't think we should be the border patrol.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. This is almost amusing.

Imagine a guy on record having said, "Fuck the Jews. They don't vote for us anyway," telling Israel to give back land the country is reluctant to give up.

[aquart]

3. And when the Heights are used to shell Israel, kudos?

Syria is run by a government that is neither Sunni nor Shia but actively hates Sunni. The Alawi are a small sect ruling a nation of both Sunni and Shia. If Syria thinks it's in a position to set conditions, and not simply scared shitless that the tribal warfare will spread to their country and destroy their hold on power....well, let's just say the Golan Heights will not solve any of their real problems.

And Baker is grown up enough to know that, so who is he kidding?