Journalist: Brace for guerilla warfare in Golan

Syrian journalist tells Ynet Israel's poor performance against Hizbullah
last summer buoyed Assad who is seeking to mobilize Syrian people for a
possible confrontation with Israel to free Golan Heights, says Israel is not
interested in peace

Ali Waked YNET Published: 12.31.06, 14:03
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3346631,00.html

Israel 's poor performance against Hizbullah last summer boosted support for
President Bashar Assad 's popularity among the Syrian people who are ready
for confrontation with Israel, a senior Syrian journalist told Ynet.

"There is no doubt that the Lebanon war and the Israeli defeat are a source
of encouragement, and also a source for recruiting the Syrian

people who see itself as a pioneer and example to other Arab people. It is
looking at how the Lebanese defeated and expelled the Israelis from their
land while its land remains occupied. "The Syrian people understood the
possibility that a war will break out, even at the price Damascus and Syrian
cities being bombarded," a senior Syrian journalist told Ynet.

His words reflect the Syrian regime's mood as Israel continues to shun
Syrian peace overtures.

Assad has been signaling willingness to talk peace with the Jewish state,
but on the other hand, the journalist says, "The principle is that so long
we haven't freed our land in a peaceful path, we are entitled to do so
militarily. The Syrian people in the occupied Golan Heights have the right
to return to their homeland."

He said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's ruling out of talks with Syria is
a sign that, "Israelis are not serious about talks with Syria . one time
they demand that Syria sever its ties with Israel, another time to sever
ties with Hizbullah - and another time with Hamas. All this show that the
Israelis look for excuses in order not to deal with the real issue - fully
withdrawing from the Golan Heights."

Supposing no progress is made toward the opening of negotiations - is a
military scenario a possibility from the Syrian standpoint?

Certainly. Perhaps this scenario will not be realized through direct combat
between the Syrian and Israeli armies, but guerilla warfare in the Golan is
definitely being considered. In my opinion, without a diplomatic
breakthrough soon this option becomes more and more significant.

What about the scenario raised in Israel according to which Syria would
agree to lease out the Golan Heights to Israel in exchange for recognition
of Syria's sovereignty over the region?

This is another excuse, another ploy the extent to which the Israelis are
playing games and are not serious. There are seven wonders in the world, and
the possibility of leasing out the Golan Heights is apparently one of them.

The Syrian stance is clear: We went to Madrid based on the territories for
peace principle and Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. This must
guide the negotiations; nothing else. Territories for peace - or more
accurately, all of the territories for peace; this will prevent people from
instilling any word games into international decisions. Leasing? The only
chance this could ever happen is if a new Syrian regime comes to power on
the back of an American tank. And this of course will not happen.

Why isn't Syria ready for compromise on this issue? Why is Syria always
expecting too much?

The Syrians have always said that peace is our strategic choice but the
current status quo cannot continue. The Syrian people are sick of the whole
thing not being serious, although it is committed to peace. As far as we are
concerned things are not complicated, and the content of negotiations is not
clear. The Israelis need to decide if they are ready or not - and let them
stop looking for and making up excuses.

Were Olmert's comments, and those of other Israeli leaders, covered in the
Syrian press?

Of course. For at least two years, the Israeli media and comments by Israeli
leaders are being translated and not just for government institutions but
for the media and for Syrian papers. Everything is translated. Politics in
Israel received great interest here, interest that only grew. There were
also official responses, mainly by the Communications Minister, who said
that if Israel is serious, talks based on negotiations in Madrid are very
possible.

Israel's dependence on America is not that tremendous. Israel should set its
policy and future according to an American position of a kind or another or
to that of an American president. That's Israeli unwillingness and an excuse
to avoid talks that could lead to stability in the region - because
stability is against Israel's basic interests. Because when there is
stability in the region, Israel loses its position as a central card of the
west and America."