Baker Report Demands Israel Give Away Golan Heights
17:12 Dec 07, '06 / 16 Kislev 5767
by Yechiel Spira and Hillel Fendel
Only a number of days after the UN passed a resolution calling Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem illegal, former US Secretary of State James Baker says Israel must leave the Golan Heights.The comprehensive report, which primarily addresses the situation in Iraq, was prepared by Baker and a former Democratic congressman, Lee Hamilton. It states that if the United States does not take a more leading role in the Mideast Israel-Arab conflict, there is no hope of America achieving its goals in the region.
According to former Israeli UN Ambassador Dr. Dore Gold, the report indicates that American involvement in Iraq will diminish in the coming two years. He called the American demand that Israel retreat from the Golan Heights "worrisome."
Speaking with reporters today, Olmert implied that he would be willing to withdraw from the Golan - but that Syria is not interested in peace. He said that previous Prime Ministers - he mentioned Barak, Netanyahu, and Sharon - were willing to consider such withdrawals, but that the question "is not whether Israel would be willing to withdraw, but what Syria would give in return when and if we enter into negotiations with them." Olmert said that negotiations with Syria are currently not on the agenda because of "Syria's undercutting behavior and its support for Hamas."
Asked specifically about the Baker-Hamilton report, Olmert said that Israel objects to any linkage between the Iraqi problem and Israel. Appearing unruffled by the report, Olmert said that he believes that President Bush does not agree with its conclusions.
The Baker-Hamilton report was greeted enthusiastically by leading Palestinian terrorists, who said it proves that "Islamic resistance" works and America can ultimately be defeated. "The report proves that this is the era of Islam and of jihad," Abu Ayman, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad in northern Samaria told Aaron Klein of WorldNetDaily.
"The Americans came to the conclusion that Islam is the new giant of the world and it would be clever to reduce hostilities with this giant," Abu Ayman said. "In the Quran the principle of the rotation is clear and according to this principle the end of the Americans and of all non-believers is getting closer."
The Golan Heights was liberated by Israel in the June 1967 Six Day War and was annexed as an integral part of the State of Israel in the 1980s. It holds great strategic value, in that Israel's presence there precludes Syrian attacks from the highlands overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee Panhandle.
The Baker-Hamilton report calls for a peace conference mimicking the Madrid model - a regional summit that would be aimed at solving the conflict between Israel, the PA (Palestinian Authority), Syria and Lebanon. In addition to an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, the report calls upon Israel to recognize the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The report demands that Syria halt its interference in Lebanon’s affairs, as well as cease its pro-terrorist policies on behalf of ongoing Hizbullah anti-Israel operations in southern Lebanon. It calls on Israel to withdraw from the Golan in exchange for a comprehensive peace treaty with Damascus that would enjoy American backing. The authors say that the U.S. would provide security guarantees and an offer of troops in the Golan to help compensate Israel for the loss of the strategically vital area.
The issue of ongoing Iranian efforts to build a nuclear weapon was not the focus of attention in the report. It briefly called on Tehran to comply with the demands of the international community and cease nuclear enrichment efforts.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has opted to avoid commenting in depth on the report. He said today he had not yet read it.
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk a-Shara expressed his country’s willingness to enter into peace negotiations with Israel. A-Shara stated Damascus is willing to reach an agreement with Israel with the understanding the Golan Heights must be returned to Syria as part of such an agreement.
Former National Security Advisor Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland stated US President George W. Bush is caught between a rock and a hard place. He explained that while the US government is anxious to bring an end to the Israel-PA conflict, Mr. Bush is not seeking to make any major changes in Washington’s relationship with Israel.
Gen. (ret.) Uzi Dayan, another former national security advisor, stated that the report will have a direct bearing on American strategy, but that there is no need for concern in Israel. He added that what should concern Israelis is the "lack of vision and leadership."
Baker Report Demands Israel Give Away Golan Heights
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