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In Israel, Separation Anxiety Over the Future of the Golan Heights

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One hardly requires the military acumen of Clausewitz to appreciate the huge military value of the Golan that gives Israel command over the approaches to Damascus and precludes Syrian command over the entire northern portion of Israel. This provides Israel with unequivocal deterrence, which has ensured that the Syrian frontier has been the most peaceful for over third of century – without Israel yielding a centimeter of territory. Only the moronic or the malicious could suggest that Israel would be better off militarily without the Golan. Nowadays, the Golan is an integrated region of Israel : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/04/golan-heights-geography-geology-and.html

Robert Bernier 2:27AM August 20, 2008

Syria controlled the Golan for 19 years, beginning in 1948, and used it to systematically shell and attack the Israeli towns below, such as Ein Gev and others in the eastern Galilee. 140 Israelis were killed in these attacks, many more were injured, and heavy property damage was also inflicted. Israel liberated the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six Day War, thus freeing northern Israel of the Syrian threat. Israel soon realized that the Golan was vital not only militarily, but also in terms of water, history, and more. The Golan was officially annexed to Israel in 1981, and over the years, 33 Jewish communities were built, including the full-fledged town of Katzrin. Today, close to 17,000 Jewish residents in 33 communities (27 kibbutzim and moshavim, 5 communal settlements and the town of Katzrin) live on the Golan Heights and the slopes of Mt. Hermon. More about the Golan: http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/04/golan-heights-geography-geology-and.html

Robert Bernier 2:24AM August 20, 2008

is pART OF serbia

tom ra of NJ 1:23PM June 16, 2008

The Kuriles are owned by Russia not Japan.
Syria is owned by Iran.
If the Golan is returned, Iran will be in the border.
On the other hand, Lebanon is owned by Syria, so Iran is already on the border.

Joseph of NJ 1:40PM June 15, 2008

I am amazed that the Arabs expect to lose wars and not pay a price. Syria invaded Israel in 1973 when the Yom Kippur war started. They lost and lost the Golan real estate. Now they want it back. If you have nothing to lose by making and losing wars, wars will never end.
Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt and included Yamit (remember Sadat's not one inch). Now Syria want the same deal and Israel might be foolish enough to give it. It might be worth considering returning the land after 20 or 30 years of peace as evidence of good faith first.
Japan won a war against Russia in 1904 and have never returned the Kuril islands.

dmmd25 of NY 5:11PM June 14, 2008

I am sure God does not go along with this nonsense

r.m.tracey of 6:07AM June 14, 2008

The Golan is as much a part of Israel, as Jerusalem has always been, & always will, be, & should NEVER, be" on the table", so to speak, the same as Jerusalem. G-D gave both, of them to the Jews, forever, & in my, book--- forever, means just that---N EVER ENDING.!!! Land for peace, has never worked before, & never will.!!! That, is a proven historical fact.!!! To fight against the Jews having ALL, the land G-D said HE has given them, is to go against HIM, & NO ONE, has ever, won a battle against HIM, & NEVER, will.!!! Read the Bible: it tells us what all HE gave to the Jews. That is the beginning, middle, & end, of the matter, period.!!!!!

Dona Frederick of IL 5:26AM June 14, 2008