Giora Eiland: Has Israel determined can retake Golan in emergency or that
war from Hula Valley acceptable?

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 8 September 2008

Writing in an op-ed in today' edition of Yediot Ahronot, Giora Eiland, a
former head of the National Security Council and former national security
adviser, points out that:

"The negotiations that were carried out with Syria some nine years ago were
based on the Israeli position that Israel clearly could not defend itself
without control of the Golan Heights.and the assertion that while our forces
would leave the Heights that they would be deployed in the nearby Hula
Valley, the Golan Heights would be demilitarized with the Syrian motorized
divisions moved far to the East and that if we understood that war was about
to break out, there would be enough time to retake the Heights before the
arrival of the Syrian Army.

This approach already then was very problematic, and in my opinion today
does not stand the test of reasonableness. Therefore, the army must make a
thorough examination as if indeed we are prepared to hand over the Heights,
one of two decisions have to be made: either we embrace the view from nine
years ago (leave the Golan only if believe it is possible to retake it
before the Syrian Army reaches it), or decide that it is possible to start
the war from the Hula Valley and defend Israel from there.

Those who engage in negotiations with Syria and deal in the details of
marking the border without clarifying this central issue are acting out of
dangerous superficiality."

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il