December 22, 2008 Likud chairman, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Likud members paid today a visit to the Golan Heights. This visit comes in contrast to Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert's, trip to Turkey to try and seal a last minute breakthrough in the peace process with Syria. There was growing criticism for Olmert's actions as it seemed he is willing to go to great lengths to try and better his "historical legacy" on the expense of Israel's security and without a mandate from the public and Knesset. Netanyahu commented that "a Likud government will never withdraw from such a vital strategic asset". He also commented about the recent voices from the Kadima cabinet to take a hard stance on Hamas: "The people of Israel expect a leadership that will take care of their security 365 days a year and not politicians who shrug their responsibility after years of failed polices by suddenly voicing fierce comments". A bit about the Golan Heights: The Golan Heights is a strategic high ground land of approx 1,800 square kilometers in the Northeast part of Israel. Many ancient Jewish ruins were found in the Golan including the city of Gamla which was destroyed by the Romans in the great Jewish Revolt of 66 AD. These Heights tower over the Ahula valley, the northern Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee (also known as Kineret or Lake Tiberias). The Golan was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War and was annexed in 1981. It has been under Israeli control longer than under Syrian. During the Syrian control of the Golan they used to fire artillery shots at Israeli villages in the valley and also tried to veer the rivers that flow to the Sea of Galilee in an attempt to dehydrate Israel in 1964. In 1967 the Syrians attacked the Israeli villages due to the beginning of hostilities between Israel and Egypt and in response Israel captured the Golan Heights. In 1973 the Syrians launched a surprise attack on Israel and were barely pushed off the Jordan River. If the war would have started from the old border most likely the Syrians would have captured much of northern Israel (although some claim that their intent was only to recapture the Golan). Till this day the Israeli and Syrian sides of the Golan are one of the most fortified borders in the World with anti tank channels, outposts' batteries and millions of mines. Today 40,000 people are living in the Golan and about half are Jews and the rest are Druze. The Golan has become a great internal tourist attraction particularly for Skiing in Mount Hermon as well as wine trips (the Golan has become the most prominent wine country in Israel). Although the Syrians have proven themselves to be part of the "axis of evil" for supporting terrorism, hijacking Lebanon and having one of the most Totalitarian regime in the world, many in Israel's left and governments have tried to reach an agreement with Syria by giving back the Golan. Many on the right have expressed great concern about handing over such an strategic asset to an untrustworthy tyrant. Further reading: http://www.golan.org.il http://www.golan.org.il/eng/ |
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The Case Agianst Israel's Enemies by Alan Dershowitz 
Coming from England and particularly from the BBC, MUST BE SEEN VIDEO! ANOTHER MUST SEE VIDEO |