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America in the Middle East

Olmert: Baker report internal US matter – ignore it


By Stan Goodenough
December 10, 2006

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet Sunday that the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report released last week, and which contains numerous recommendations detrimental to Israel’s security and survival, should be treated as an internal American affair and ignored.

His ministers should avoid discussing the report, he said. "We heard the position of [US] President [President George W.] Bush and there is no need to add anything to that. I do not recommend comments on this sensitive topic."

Olmert said he does “not believe” that Bush will alter his approach to the terrorist-supporting states of Syria and Iran

Numerous analysts have concluded, however, that when it comes to the crunch, Bush will not be able to go against the recommendations of ISG chairman and secretary of state under the president’s father, James Baker.

And Baker’s report has concluded that, trapped in Iraq, without the political resolve to stay the course and achieve the aims for which it sent its fighting forces into the country, the United States should make Israel pay the price that will enable America to extricate itself from that mess.

This, at least, is the growing perception in Israel as the ramifications of the ISG report sink in.

The report, which has not been welcomed in Jerusalem, argues that the US needs both Iran and Syria to be involved in discussions that will shore up the Iraqi government and enable American men and women in uniform to finally go home.

The bribe to be dangled before Damascus is the Golan Heights, the hills and high plateau overlooking the Upper Galilee which were annexed by Israel in 1981.

Syria insist the Golan is its territory, despite the fact that the League of Nations designated it to be part of the Jewish national home, or that Israel took it from the Syrians after they had used it for 19 years to launch attacks against Jews in the Galilee.

Israel has controlled the Heights for more than twice the length of time Syria did. And unlike the Syrians, who did nothing to develop them, Israel has turned the Golan into fertile farms and cattle ranches, and has built a city on its slopes.

Instead of being ostracized Iran, the nation whose leadership has repeatedly vowed to obliterate Israel, and who are pursuing the weapons wherewith to make good on their threat, is to be offered the carrot of US recognition that will enable it to continue building its nuclear program unhindered.

Alarmed observers believe that instead of standing up to this double betrayal from Israel's American ally, Olmert has chosen to put his head into the sand in the hope the issues will sort themselves out.

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