Nursing illusions
The announcement that Israel is willing to give up the entire Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria, was not new to the Syrians. This talk has been in the air since 2005. So has been talk of an upcoming war between Syria and Israel. Average Syrians are confused. One day they get every indicator in the world, that war is in the immediate horizon. War sirens go off on a specific date at a specific hour every month - a war drill unheard of since 1973. In April 2008, the Israeli Defence Forces begin the largest manoeuvres in history on its border with Syria. The Syrian army calls in its reserves.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10209234.html
Israel’s wooing of Syria is suspect
Linda S. Heard
The Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is all of a sudden open to peace negotiations with Damascus and the Syrians are cautiously cooperative. Superficially, this is good news. The implication is that Syria would get back the strategically important Golan Heights when family members separated since 1967 would no longer have to communicate with each other using a loud speaker. Finally elderly mothers would have the chance to hug their children and cuddle their grandchildren for the first time. Long separated siblings would be able to share a meal together and old friends could catch up on lives lived apart for more than four decades.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10209233.html