Let’s swap land for peace with Syria

last updated 8 January 2015

Editorial

Ha’aretz

It’s time finally to give up the Golan Heights, said Ha’aretz in an editorial. We have treated the northern territory as a military stronghold ever since we seized it from Syria during the 1967 War—the lookout point on Mount Hermon is referred to as “Israel’s Eyes.” But in reality it has never helped that much: It didn’t warn us about the 1973 surprise attack during Yom Kippur, and it will be of no use in defending us against the missile attacks that will characterize future wars—only advanced spy technology will do that. But we could exchange Golan for something far more precious—peace with Syria. There are distinct signs that President Bashar al-Assad is ready for a deal. President Bush, who demonized Assad, will soon be gone, and all three of Bush’s potential successors favor such a peace deal. In Israel the idea is backed not just by “bleeding hearts” but also by the security establishment and hawkish politicians such as Benjamin Netanyahu, who was prepared to swap the Golan Heights for peace when he was prime minister—only Syria wasn’t interested then. The settlers who live there will put up a fight, of course, and there will be moans from hikers and bird watchers, but they will have to accept it for the greater good. Removing Syria from the Axis of Evil will “shuffle the Middle Eastern deck” and create new chances for peace.