GA Resolution: Israel must withdraw from E.J'lem, Golan

Decisive majority in UN General Assembly approves six pro-Palestinian resolutions, including calls for Israel to dismantle settlements, withdraw from territory captured in '67, including E. J'lem, Golan Heights despite heavy opposition by Israel, US

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3335043,00.html

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"The General Assembly approved six pro-Palestinian resolutions over United States and Israeli objections, culminating the annual United Nations debate aimed at showing the world body's solidarity with Palestinian demands for an independent homeland.

At the end of three days of speeches, the 192-member world body on Friday reaffirmed the UN's responsibility regarding the Palestinian question and stressed the Palestinian peoples' right to self-determination and an independent state.

In the key resolution on the "Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine," the General Assembly welcomed the Nov. 26 cease-fire in Gaza and urged both sides to maintain the truce which it said could pave the way for negotiations towards a solution to the conflict.

The Palestinian UN Observer, Riyad Mansour, said the vote - 157 to 7 with 10 abstentions - showed massive support in the international community for moving forward on the peace process."

The Palestinians gonna promise never not ever to rain shells and mortar fire down on Israel from the Heights? ARE THEY?

Most of the Arabs living there are Syrian Druze. I don't know if any Palestinians live in the Golan. A return of the Golan and removal of the settlements would most likely include full diplomatic relations with Syria including exchange of ambassadors. International monitors would likely be part of any withdrawal from the Golan.

This reminds me of a recent column by Israeli peace activist and former Knesset member; Uri Avnery:

"Lunch in Damascus"
link: http://www.avnery-news.co.il/english/index.html

07/10/06

ONCE, WHILE traveling in a taxi, I had an argument with the driver - a profession associated in Israel with extreme right-wing views. I tried in vain to convince him of the desirability of peace with the Arabs. In our country, which has never seen a single day of peace in the last hundred years, peace can seem like something out of science fiction.

Suddenly I had an inspiration. "When we have peace," I said, "You can take your taxi in the morning and go to Damascus, have lunch there with real authentic Hummus and come back home in the evening."

He jumped at the idea. "Wow," he exclaimed, "If that happens, I shall take you with me for nothing!"

"And I shall treat you to lunch," I responded

He continued to dream. "If I could go to Damascus in my car, I could drive on from there all the way to Paris!"


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The question of the Golan Heights is a difficult one. I do not see how it is related to the Palestinians though. More like between Israel and Syria. I can not see Israel handing it all back to Syria, but then I can not see the international community ever recognizing it as being part of Israel. So does that mean it will just remain a piece land annexed by Israel, but never really part of Israel and under constant dispute with Syria. Times have changed. If it was all handed back to Syria then I do not think they would suddenly start to occupy the land with troops - they would just loose it for good if they done that. Militarily no any arab country can win against Israel. It for this reason that it is unlikely that Syria, if it did ever get the land back, would put its troops in the Golan Heights.