Israel-Syria confirm peace talks

[Jidoe]

Israel-Syria confirm peace talks

Israel and Syria have said they are holding indirect talks to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

"The two sides indicated they want to lead these negotiations in a serious spirit so as to achieve complete peace," said spokesman Mark Regev.

In a statement, Syria's foreign ministry said: "Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in goodwill and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace,"

Analysts say that, in return for any withdrawal, Israel would demand Syria sever its ties with Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Way to go. I can only hope this is for real now.

[Rosuav]

Middle East peace is always temporary, unfortunately. Ever since Hagar and Ishmael fled Abraham's household, there has been hostility.

But we can certainly hope (and pray) that this will result in a few years' cessation of warfare.

[Darion]

Originally posted by Rosuav
But we can certainly hope (and pray) that this will result in a few years' cessation of warfare.

Yeah, that ought to give Hamas plenty of time to rearm and pick up right where they left off.

[Savaric]

Iran is the one who sponsors Hezbollah, right? But I think a lot of their weapons move through Syria. Well I hope it leads to something worthwhile.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by Rosuav
Middle East peace is always temporary, unfortunately.

That's only partially correct. The peace between Israel and Egypt is reaching the 30 years mark and while the countries are not the closest allies, it still holds vast importance.

Yeah, that ought to give Hamas plenty of time to rearm and pick up right where they left off.

I honestly think a true peace with Syria will have exactly the opposite effect. Hamas headquarters are currently in Syria; Every peace treaty will of course deal with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus and they will probably move somewhere else (Islamic Jihad probably to Iran, and Hamas have a problem here). In addition, a peace treaty with Syria will put more pressure on the Palestinians to follow suit.

Iran is the one who sponsors Hezbollah, right? But I think a lot of their weapons move through Syria. Well I hope it leads to something worthwhile.

That's true, but it leads to a bigger problem. Iran is the one who sponsors Syria and unless the United States is willing to give a lot of money to Syria, I just don't see Syria leaving Iran's entourage.

[Rosuav]

Originally posted by Jidoe
That's only partially correct. The peace between Israel and Egypt is reaching the 30 years mark and while the countries are not the closest allies, it still holds vast importance.

That's good! I don't have the stats to hand. (Although in the scale of millenia, 30 years is still fairly short, to be honest.) Every year of peace makes it that little bit more likely for peace to continue.

[Savaric]

Iran, Syria, and Palestine can end the violence whenever they want. I think the road for peace has always been in their court.

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Savaric
I think the road for peace has always been in their court.

Was that the blueprint for mixed metaphors?

[Kravenar]

Originally posted by Rosuav
Every year of peace makes it that little bit more likely for peace to continue.

Well Duh!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure if war breaks out the likelihood of peace continuing is pretty much shot to pieces.

[Rosuav]

Originally posted by kravenar
Well Duh!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure if war breaks out the likelihood of peace continuing is pretty much shot to pieces.

That is true. But when there was war last year, it's a very tentative peace, and it's easy for tempers to flare and hostility to resume... on the other hand, when there's been a decade or two without fighting, there'll be some peaceful ties being built (unless it's the unstable peace where there's tensions building constantly), so it does make a difference.