Israel to pull out of Shebaa farms after they officially become Lebanese

While on official visit in France, Israel's Prime Minester Ehud Olmert told French President Jacques Chirac, that he is ready to pull out of Shebaa farms when and only when Syria and Lebanon demarcate their borders and Shebaa farms are officially identified as Lebanese.

Lebanon has just entered a new vicious circle. While Siniora urged Israel to pull out of Shebaa so that Lebanon can work with Syria in delineating their borders. Olmert just broke that plan of action by announcing that Israel will, indeed, pull out of Shebaa, but only once they are officially considered Lebanese.

What will be the next move? Only time will tell, but will Syria, at last, agree to cooperate and start the talks in delineating the borders is the key to the issue.

Unfortunately, as much as it is not in Israel's interest to pull out of Shebaa farms*; it is not in Syria's interest to demarcate its borders with Lebanon and officially consider Shebaa farms Lebanese (or Syrian.)

Indeed, the status quo is pretty much needed in the actual state of the region. It allows hizbullah to keep their arms (Shebaa is their last token in the matter) and Syria to keep, somewhat, a presence in Lebanon.

The status quo is in the interest of our neighbor countries. But once again we are stuck in the middle struggling for stability and democracy.

*It is important to note that Shebaa farms have the second largest water resource in the region. Water very much needed by all the surrounding countries. In addition, if Shebaa farms are deemed to be Syrian it will be a token used by Israel in future negotiations - if there are any - or to push Damas in negotiating a peace treaty. After all, it is the Sinai that pushed Egypt to negotiate - that and the fact that Sadat was looking for a way to get closer to the US and the West. - What is more, Israel does not have much interest in withdrawing from a territory that does not, at this time, belong to any sovereign states; and end up with some kind of no-man's land.

For more information on the subject you can read the following article: "Olmert Tells Chirac Israel is Ready to Pull Out of Shabaa"