Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 27, 2008 Kislev 30, 5769 | | Israel Time: 14:09 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 05:50 30/11/2008
Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing?
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ehud Olmert, Syria 

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George Bush believes that Israel is offering Syria the Golan Heights without getting anything in exchange, according to sources briefed on his White House meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week.

After Olmert updated Bush on Israel's indirect talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the U.S. president demanded, "Why do you want to give Assad the Golan for nothing?" the sources said.

"It's not for nothing," Olmert insisted. "It's in exchange for a change in the region's strategic alignment."
Advertisement
Bush persisted: "Why should you believe him?" And to that, Olmert did not reply.

The Bush administration has long had reservations about Israel's talks with Syria and refuses to play any active role in them. Infuriated by Syria's involvement in anti-American terror in Iraq, as well as its undermining of Lebanon's fragile democracy, Bush preferred to invest his diplomatic capital in Israeli-Palestinian talks, while eschewing contacts with the Syrians.

Olmert tried to explain the strategic importance that Israel attaches to the talks with Syria, describing the Middle East as being defined by two axes: an extremist "horizontal axis" running from Iran via Syria to Hezbollah and Hamas, and a pragmatic "vertical axis" running from Turkey via Syria to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Syria, Olmert argued, sits at the intersection of these two axes. Thus should it switch its allegiance to the "vertical axis," this would greatly weaken the extremists and strengthen the pragmatists.

Olmert also believes that Bashar Assad has moved much closer to Iran than his father Hafez ever did. Today, he said, Damascus is locked in an Iranian "bear hug" that threatens the very existence of its secular regime. That, combined with Syria's dismal economy, creates an opportunity to flip Assad into the moderate camp, the premier argued.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama favors American dialogue with Syria, and would presumably agree to take an active role in Israeli-Syrian talks. Aaron Miller, a veteran of former president Bill Clinton's peace team, published an article in The Washington Post Saturday in which he urged Obama to adopt a "Syria first" strategy.


Related articles:
  • Report: Bush offered to press Israel to quit Golan if Syria cuts Iran ties
  • Carter: U.S. would not stand in way of Israel-Syria peace deal
  • Officials: U.S. vital to relaunching Syria talks
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Top dog
    An Israeli plan to use DNA to track dog feces was noted by the NY Times Magazine.
    Linking with the left
    An Israeli Arab party met a leftist Palestinian faction led by a convicted terrorist.
      1.   Take no notice of that has-been Bush... 06:02  |  Silvienne 30/11/08
      2.   #1 you`re wrong 06:41  |  dave s. 30/11/08
      3.   Silvienne..the moving trucks are also at Olmerts door... 06:47  |  Nemesis 30/11/08
      4.   Actually Bush is right on this one... 06:53  |  Nemesis 30/11/08
      5.   Yesterdays men? 07:09  |  Manny Goldstein 30/11/08
      6.   #3, Nemesis....if there were any justice... 07:19  |  Silvienne 30/11/08
      7.   Has Olmert Completely Lost His Mind? 07:24  |  massaraksh 30/11/08
      8.   EXACTLY..... WHY is Olmert giving the Golan to Syria for NOTHING? 07:26  |  Dagma 30/11/08
      9.   Syria is a neighbour - like it or not 07:28  |  Palestinian Brit 30/11/08
      10.   The worst government since Moses led us from slavery 07:31  |  Steve 30/11/08
      11.   "why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing?" 07:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/11/08
      12.   L`enfer c`est les autres 07:45  |  Steve 30/11/08
      13.   Olmert on track? 08:03  |  Jim 30/11/08
      14.   IT`S LUDICROUS TO GIVE UP GOLAN!!!! 08:59  |  dr eric 30/11/08
      15.   Both Are Irrevelant 09:09  |  Nostradamus 30/11/08
      16.   #6 Nostradamus FAILS his CURRENT affairs 09:46  |  CK Tan 30/11/08
      17.   Answer: UN Resolutions 242 & 338 09:50  |  Bryan 30/11/08
      18.   At least Bush isn`t heading to prison 11:47  |  Ilan 30/11/08
      19.   Exactly what we`re thinking 12:10  |  JS 30/11/08
      20.   Olmert 12:19  |  Bruno Tercatin 30/11/08
      21.   Even Bush is smart enough to see this is a dumb idea! 13:19  |  Raymond in DC 30/11/08
      22.   Syria will NOT sever ties with Iran as part of PEACE deal 13:44  |  CK Tan 30/11/08
      23.   The golan aint going no where 14:00  |  George 30/11/08
      24.   #9 Palestinian Brit 14:04  |  George 30/11/08
      25.   Olmert is insane 15:36  |  Gene 30/11/08
      26.   Bush has more sense than olmert! 16:11  |  Arie 30/11/08
      27.   Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing 16:12  |  joseph 30/11/08
      28.   To pali Brit:Good fences make good neighbours! 16:14  |  Arie 30/11/08
      29.   The curiously timed shift 16:33  |  Mark Lincoln 30/11/08
      30.   Bush is Right 16:33  |  Ron 30/11/08
      31.   WHERE ARE RESIGNATIONS IN ISRAEL? WHERE IS THE PROTEST? 16:34  |  James Mcfarland 30/11/08
      32.   Stupidity of Bush is well established 16:52  |  dan 30/11/08
      33.   to #11 Cipora 16:59  |  Arab Syrian 30/11/08
      34.   Arab Siryan, Olmert is under investigation, not the one to speak 17:30  |  Simon 30/11/08
      35.   Because he`s olmert! 17:41  |  Arie 30/11/08
      36.   Bush sends secret letter to Assad: Quit Iran and I?ll get Israel 17:43  |  David Turner 30/11/08
      37.   #18 llan 17:45  |  Jim 30/11/08
      38.   Bush and Olmert are middle-term history, like Mickey Mouse ..... 17:48  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 30/11/08
      39.   Not for nothing 17:57  |  Jan Elshout 30/11/08
      40.   #20 Bruno Tercatin 17:57  |  Jim 30/11/08
      41.   everything you know about B`s failure in his question 18:05  |  Shelley 30/11/08
      42.   #14 Dr. Erection 18:06  |  hmm 30/11/08
      43.   To Arab Syrian 18:07  |  Oleg 30/11/08
      44.   #25 Gene 18:13  |  Jim 30/11/08
      45.   Bush now sees Olmert to be the total idiot we all knew existed 18:20  |  Livin In Rishon 30/11/08
      46.   Money wired by Arabs to Swiss Accounts would be Olmerts style 18:27  |  Olmerts cellmate 30/11/08
      47.   #28 Arie 18:30  |  Jim 30/11/08
      48.   "Why are you giving Golan to Syria" 18:50  |  Judith Roshit 30/11/08
      49.   To Arie - Good fences make good neibhors 18:59  |  Judith Roshit 30/11/08
      50.   bush and neocon&co mwant war and/or regime change in syria 19:19  |  observant 30/11/08
      51.   Ehud Olmert just another Middle Eastern dictaitor 20:15  |  zionist forever 30/11/08
      52.   Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing? 20:15  |  gidon ben yoash 30/11/08
      53.   George lately of Beit Jala 20:17  |  Palestinian Brit 30/11/08
      54.   Arie - but this is not a GOOD fence! 20:20  |  Palestinian Brit 30/11/08
      55.   Judith - right on the nail! 20:23  |  Palestinian Brit 30/11/08
      56.   and the answer is 20:31  |  mapi 30/11/08
      57.   #47-why are you giving sysria the golan. 20:41  |  joseph 30/11/08
      58.   A Better Question 20:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/11/08
      59.   #49 Judith Roshit 21:38  |  Jim 30/11/08
      60.   To Palestinian Brit 21:47  |  Oleg 30/11/08
      61.   olmert is even more stupid than bush 22:02  |  michel 30/11/08
      62.   Olmert - Too Ashamed to Tell Bush Why 22:05  |  Tod Zuckerman 30/11/08
      63.   Oleg? 22:12  |  Arab Syrian 30/11/08
      64.   Poor Judith (#48) 22:28  |  Steve 30/11/08
      65.   bush to olmert 22:32  |  h gadban 30/11/08
      66.   #59 Jim--I can see lots of posts heading your way 22:45  |  Labhras 30/11/08
      67.   #33, Arab Syrian 22:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/11/08
      68.   RE#39 22:51  |  Hub Dumont 30/11/08
      69.   Unbelieveable 22:51  |  Peter Williams 30/11/08
      70.   Cowboys politics 22:52  |  yoil 30/11/08
      71.   TO h gadban: Let Arabs Show the World How to Do It 22:54  |  massaraksh 30/11/08
      72.   Wise words from a wise man 23:11  |  TOMY 30/11/08
      73.   `cause he`s competing with wal mart 23:16  |  giveaway 30/11/08
      74.   num 46 23:19  |  In D. Know 30/11/08
      75.   New promising ideas 23:35  |  Ron Caris 30/11/08
      76.   To Arab Syrian - Salaam cousin! 23:43  |  Jewboy 30/11/08
      77.   PalBrit the west bank is not palestine 23:57  |  yassir arafat 30/11/08
      78.   Golans 23:59  |  helen 30/11/08
      79.   The West Bank is not Palestine 00:04  |  Yasser Arafat 01/12/08
      80.   Gaza is not Palestine 00:05  |  Abu Amar 01/12/08
      81.   to Jim #49 00:08  |  helen 01/12/08
      82.   to Gadban 00:11  |  helen 01/12/08
      83.   Olmert Follow U.S. Dep`t of State pro-Arab policy 00:28  |  Joseph.E 01/12/08
      84.   You know what I find so funny about this article? 00:35  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      85.   #2 Dave Cohen - Your missive to Silvienne 00:35  |  * BEN JABO 01/12/08
      86.   #9 Palestinian Brit - Would you mind answering 00:39  |  *BEN JABO 01/12/08
      87.   #64 Steve 00:46  |  Jim 01/12/08
      88.   #48 Judith - `67 Borders 00:47  |  * BEN JABO 01/12/08
      89.   Mark - maybe the souce was... 00:52  |  Jewboy 01/12/08
      90.   olmert is an idiot! 01:01  |  don munrean 01/12/08
      91.   THIS IS WHY, BUSH 01:09  |  indrajaya 01/12/08
      92.   ISRAEL OWES NOTHING TO SYRIA EXCEPT ANOTHER PUNCH IN THE NOSE. 01:12  |  jewish doctor 01/12/08
      93.   To Johnboy:You know what we find so funny about your feedback? 01:14  |  Arie 01/12/08
      94.   To Judit in NJ: Russia and Georgia PERFECT examples 01:21  |  Arie 01/12/08
      95.   What do you expect? 01:29  |  Baz Mann 01/12/08
      96.   DON`T take Advice from the DUMBEST LEADER EVER 01:43  |  Ed 01/12/08
      97.   #75 And you know what I find so funny about your comment, Arie? 01:44  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      98.   The bottom line here is..... 01:52  |  Nemesis 01/12/08
      99.   When did Bush ask this stupid question. 01:52  |  Michael N 01/12/08
      100.   THERE IS NO ANCIENT NATIONS SAVE ISRAEL 01:52  |  JOSEPH 01/12/08
      101.   To pali #54:Fence keeps moving?Yes backwards! 01:56  |  Arie 01/12/08
      102.   Lame Ducks and Taqiyya 02:05  |  Brod 01/12/08
      103.   Trust Bush--look how well he did in Iraq 02:21  |  W 01/12/08
      104.   #77-johnny:so you admit i am right 02:33  |  Arie 01/12/08
      105.   Indrajaya 02:34  |  Jane 01/12/08
      106.   #67 helen 02:48  |  Jim 01/12/08
      107.   #73 helen 03:02  |  Jim 01/12/08
      108.   oldmert is crazy people;he`s dangerous;he`s trying his best to 03:06  |  glenna 01/12/08
      109.   #82 Ed 03:14  |  Jim 01/12/08
      110.   Does Israel want to be seen as a legitimate state or doesn`t it? 03:21  |  Clickfool 01/12/08
      111.   The President has been a good friend to Jacob 03:28  |  Pastor Joseph 01/12/08
      112.   Why? Because Olmert is on the Hamas payroll 03:31  |  Jon 01/12/08
      113.   "They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little tem 03:38  |  joseph 01/12/08
      114.   #86 Joseph 03:49  |  Jim 01/12/08
      115.   Its not often I agree with Olmert 03:55  |  Al khansa 01/12/08
      116.   The President has been a good friend to Jacob 04:01  |  Pastor Joseph 01/12/08
      117.   #87 Arie 04:22  |  Jim 01/12/08
      118.   the golan 04:33  |  joseph 01/12/08
      119.   #72 helen 04:38  |  Jim 01/12/08
      120.   jim59 04:43  |  strange 01/12/08
      121.   #86 Joseph 04:44  |  Jim 01/12/08
      122.   Kol HaKavod Bush 04:44  |  Frank 01/12/08
      123.   #87 Arie 04:46  |  Jim 01/12/08
      124.   To Jewish Doctor 04:48  |  Mark G 01/12/08
      125.   Mark of Lewiston 05:27  |  Mark Lincoln 01/12/08
      126.   what Israel loose from Olmert selling the Golan for a nobel prize 05:53  |  zionist forever 01/12/08
      127.   Johnboy 06:22  |  TonyL 01/12/08
      128.   The Golan will be given to Syria 06:47  |  Rodney Dezarn 01/12/08
      129.   Johnboy Stalemate! 07:23  |  Peter Williams 01/12/08
      130.   Mark Lincoln 07:31  |  TonyL 01/12/08
      131.   #17, Bryan, when was the last time Syria respected int`l law? 07:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/12/08
      132.   Olmert the BLIND & CORRUPT!! 07:44  |  Ben Yeppi 01/12/08
      133.   Land for what? 08:08  |  David R. Zukerman 01/12/08
      134.   #101 Stale argument, more like, Peter Williams 08:42  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      135.   #101 Oh, spare me your naivety too, Peter Williams! 08:55  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      136.   ANY SYR-ISR DEAL MUST BE BASED ON HATAY MODEL, NOT SINAI MODEL 08:58  |  G Marcus 01/12/08
      137.   #99 TonyL; even now, still a Bush admirer 09:03  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      138.   #103 When has Syria respected Int`l Law, Cipora? 09:08  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      139.   Golan`s rightful owners: who are they? 09:32  |  x-ray 01/12/08
      140.   Bush never stops obstructing peace and 09:52  |  Che Vive 01/12/08
      141.   Johnboy 10:00  |  TonyL 01/12/08
      142.   #118, JB, do you have trouble with reading comprehension? 10:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/12/08
      143.   Johnboy pot calls kettle black 10:18  |  Peter Williams 01/12/08
      144.   No he is not out yet!! 12:11  |  Aryeh 01/12/08
      145.   I agree 12:18  |  Aryeh 01/12/08
      146.   C Students 14:56  |  David 01/12/08
      147.   You can`t give away something that isn`t yours. 16:02  |  Jens 01/12/08
      148.   #142, Cipora...such a superior air! 17:35  |  Silvienne 01/12/08
      149.   Johnboy 138 - Recheck your notes on Int`l Law 23:26  |  Elihu 01/12/08
      150.   #86, Ben Jabo... 23:30  |  Silvienne 01/12/08
      151.   #142 Answer *what* question, Cipora? 23:41  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      152.   #143 I see the point escapes you, Peter Williams 23:51  |  Johnboy 01/12/08
      153.   golan giveaway 00:34  |  rich 02/12/08
      154.   #148 Silvienne - Such a lack of knowledge 01:25  |  * BEN JABO 02/12/08
      155.   #147 Jens - Denmark 01:34  |  * BEN JABO 02/12/08
      156.   To JOSEPH and BEN JABO 02:00  |  Nick 02/12/08
      157.   Who owns the land? 04:45  |  Hakeem 02/12/08
      158.   Fragile democracy 05:04  |  Dahoumia 02/12/08
      159.   Why is Olmert giving Syria the Golan? 05:10  |  Pam D. 02/12/08
      160.   giving Syria the Golan for nothing 05:21  |  joseph 02/12/08
      161.   #150, Ben Jabo... 05:21  |  Silvienne 02/12/08
      162.   Discussions 08:31  |  Johnkutty 02/12/08
      163.   Johnboy 09:11  |  Peter Williams 02/12/08
      164.   nick and the golan 16:05  |  joseph 02/12/08
      165.   #156, Nick...well said! 17:35  |  Silvienne 02/12/08
      166.   #156 Nick 18:25  |  * BEN JABO 02/12/08
      167.   #150 Silvienne - Don`t you read the papers? 18:32  |  * BEN JABO 02/12/08
      168.   #167, Ben Jabo... 19:02  |  Silvienne 02/12/08
      169.   Silly 20:24  |  T.O 02/12/08
      170.   Nonsens 20:25  |  T.O 02/12/08
      171.   josseph 20:50  |  Nick 02/12/08
      172.   BEN JABO 21:02  |  Nick 02/12/08
      173.   nicckk 21:12  |  josseph 02/12/08
      174.   #172, Nick the second, this much is certainly true... 22:07  |  Silvienne 02/12/08
      175.   NICK/JABO 00:46  |  joseph 03/12/08
      176.   #149 Better recheck your notes, Elihu 00:58  |  Johnboy 03/12/08
      177.   #168 Silvienne - I can`t fathom your time travel 03:12  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      178.   Nick - It seems you haven`t read the TIMELINES 03:22  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      179.   #176 Johnboy Tries to re-write history & facts 05:48  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      180.   #176-2 Johnboy - You seem to have time 07:45  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      181.   #179, BEN-JABO writing his own history 09:14  |  VIPER 03/12/08
      182.   #180 S. VIPER - fails to read the facts 15:33  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      183.   ES VIPER - Timelines for your digestion 15:38  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      184.   #177, Ben Jabo... 17:02  |  Silvienne 03/12/08
      185.   #178, that`s it, Nick...the Seven Questions (Of Doom... 17:04  |  Silvienne 03/12/08
      186.   #179, Ben Jabo & Johnboy 17:08  |  Silvienne 03/12/08
      187.   Moshe Dayan had a fit of honesty 17:15  |  Dahoumia 03/12/08
      188.   Ben Jabo 20:09  |  Nemesis 03/12/08
      189.   part3 benjabo 21:51  |  Nick 03/12/08
      190.   #184 Silvienne - You needn`t concern yourself 23:51  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      191.   #186 Silvienne - There are no "technecalities" 23:58  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/08
      192.   #188 Nemesis - You`re correct 00:05  |  * BEN JABO 04/12/08
      193.   #190, Ben Jabo...whatever is the point of that? 00:24  |  Silvienne 04/12/08
      194.   #193 Silvienne - You should know by now 04:56  |  * BEN JABO 04/12/08
      195.   BUSH to Olmert - have you lost your marbles? 14:15  |  The Archives 04/12/08
      196.   NOT much time will pass before we will miss BUSH 17:45  |  Mike 04/12/08
      197.   "It`s in exchange for a change in the region`s strategic alignmen 13:04  |  alex 27/12/08
     Read & React
    Sources: At least 155 dead, over 200 hurt in IAF Gaza strikes
    Responses: 61
    Palestinian rocket accidentally kills 2 young Gaza girls
    Responses: 123
    ANALYSIS / A hard look at Hamas' capabilities
    Responses: 88
    Israelis voice horror at rejection of Arab child from Jewish daycare
    Responses: 116
    Report: Iran preps humanitarian aid ship to Gaza Strip
    Responses: 88
    Benjamin Weinthal: Berlin conference dangerously equates anti-Semitism with Islamophobia
    Responses: 71


    More Headlines
    13:52 Palestinians: At least 155 dead, over 200 hurt in IAF Gaza strikes
    14:08 One Israeli killed, four injured by Palestinian rocket in west Negev
    13:48 Hamas: Gaza war is like Second Lebanon War
    12:58 ANALYSIS / Israel wants to teach Hamas a lesson, but not to reconquer Gaza
    11:48 Peres: Israel has no plans to enter Gaza, won't ignite regional war
    19:13 Palestinian rocket accidentally kills 2 young Gaza girls
    07:26 Report: Iran preps humanitarian aid ship to Gaza Strip
    10:20 Arab journalist blasts Egyptian FM for failing to censure Livni Gaza threats
    01:40 Elie Wiesel charity vows to fight on despite being swindled in Madoff affair
    22:23 Israeli Arab party meets leftist Palestinian faction led by convicted terrorist
    09:59 NY Times Magazine honors Israeli dog mess DNA bank initiative
    13:53 Did Holocaust survivors really fall in love through a concentration camp fence?
    13:25 Rightist MK Eldad: Barak must face trial for aiding an enemy
    15:22 'World Orgasm Day' orgy for peace canceled due to threats
    10:24 Israelis voice horror at rejection of Arab child from Jewish daycare
    04:03 ANALYSIS / A hard look at Hamas' capabilities
    18:39 Palestinian 'Santas' do battle with Israeli security forces over West Bank fence
    05:40 After 61 years, pilot who defied law to help Israel's birth receives pardon
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Academic Studies in Israel
    All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved