What Peace Can Be Gained?
I happen to be an Israel watcher. I have prayed for that nation. That kind of thing really irks some people. As someone who believes that the Bible says what it means and means what it says, I would be described by some as "one of those fundamentalist Christians" who thinks Israel can do no wrong. Hardly. While being called a fundamentalist is fine with me, I think Israel is in the position it is in precisely because it was a nation in disobedience to God. I do feel though, that they had every right to reestablish themselves where they are and become a nation once more, because they were being killed or treated prejudicially just about everywhere else they were living, and I believe that the nation of Israel will be reconciled to God once again. These things are part of what makes me wonder where Ehud Olmert's head is at.
I happen to be an Israel watcher. I have prayed for that nation. That kind of thing really irks some people. As someone who believes that the Bible says what it means and means what it says, I would be described by some as "one of those fundamentalist Christians" who thinks Israel can do no wrong. Hardly. While being called a fundamentalist is fine with me, I think Israel is in the position it is in precisely because it was a nation in disobedience to God. I do feel though, that they had every right to reestablish themselves where they are and become a nation once more, because they were being killed or treated prejudicially just about everywhere else they were living, and I believe that the nation of Israel will be reconciled to God once again. These things are part of what makes me wonder where Ehud Olmert's head is at.
I have been watching the headlines in different papers for the last few months. Israel's Prime Minister has been making somewhat cryptic, connect-the-dots type statements for some time now about different land for peace prospects. http://ourbreadoflife.blogspot.com/search?q=olmert For the last couple of weeks or more, he has been hinting that giving the Golan Heights back to Syria is a real possibility. The notion that giving the Arab state this piece of real estate will bring peace to the region is just nuts. It makes me wonder if Prime Minister Olmert has been leading in absentia or something.
Israel took back the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967. I remember the Mideast War. I remember some of the older people I knew thought it was "Armageddon". At the very least, it made them nervous. The Syrians made bold moves to wipe out the Israelis at that time and ended up losing it. They immediately started asking for the Israelis to give it back. Kind of funny in a way. "Okay, so we intended to kill all of you, and you beat us and took some strategic real estate that helps make your country more tenable. Give it back." Israel made a successful defense of the Golan Heights in the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and even magnanimously returned part of it to Syria in the 1980s. They have not stopped wanting it all back, and it begins to look like they may get it, if the Prime Minister of Israel has his way.
The deal is, the trade for peace would have the Syrians make certain agreements. They would have to disavow Hamas, ending their sponsorship of that terrorist organization. Not only that, but they would have to expel Hamas' Khaled Mashaal out of Damascus, thereby ending their support for Hezbollah, and as well it would be a symbolic break of terrorist ties to Iran. These are all requirements that must be met by Syria before such a trade could be considered by Israel.
This is just nuts. Syria would never honor such a set of concessions, yet, Prime Minister Olmert hinted two weeks ago when he said that the two nations had been in communication to make clear what each wants in a peace deal. Syria wants land, specifically the Golan Heights. Why in his right mind would this man even think of doing this? The Golan Heights is bordered not just be Israel and Syria, but by Jordan and Lebanon as well. It acts as a patrolled shield that provides Israel's northern populace with a certain amount of security. Take it away, and not only will Israeli citizens be driven from their homes once again, but Syria would have easy access from which to lob artillery rounds and launch rockets into heavily populated areas.
That Likud party lawmaker Yuval Steinitz said Olmert showed "unprecedented recklessness" in making these communications with Syria is no surprise. Israel's public is not behind this either. That only demonstrates a common sense that Israel would be making a huge mistake in the trade. But if past deals are any indication, public sentiment may change. I don't get that either. There has not been a single land for peace deal so far that has been honored by Israel's enemies. How many times will Israel have to get thumped before their leadership gets it? The Gaza Strip is a prime example. Nothing but grief has come out of that deal. The Palestinians opened up the area immediately to Islamic fundamentalists who launch rockets into southern Israel every day.
This is a bad deal all the way around. If Israel decides to do this, it amounts to signing a pact with the devil. It can come to no good, but even making such a deal makes the possibility of war that much greater. If Israel decides not to do the deal, Syria's determination to go to war with Israel to get the territory back will come into play.
I hope Prime Minister Olmert has something really ingenious up his sleeve. I just don't see how he can.
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