In a January 20, 2007 article, The Economist highlights the precarious situation between Israel and Syria, and the possibility of peace talks taking place in the near future. Some optimists venture far enough to say that if Israel negotiates peace with Syria, "it could be the key to peace in the whole Middle East," according to the article.
This week, Haaretz, a major Israeli newspaper, broke the news of secret dealings between Syrians and Israelis for the past two years, producing the outline of a possible peace deal between the two nations, who, to put it lightly, are not on speaking terms.
It has been said that this secret communicative channel developed after Israelis refused an offer for talks in 2004. The talks took place between former ambassador Alon Liel and Ibrahim Suleiman, a citizen of Syria residing in Washington, DC., who is presumably close with Syrian President Bashir Assad. The two held eight meetings, mediated by a Swiss diplomat. The plan calls for the return of all of the Golan Heights to Syria, making it a demilitarised national park, into which Israelis can enter without obtaining visa. Israel's water supply would be safeguarded, and both countries would have zones of reduced military presence along their borders. The plan fails to address some major issues, such as the Syrian refugees who were expelled from the Golan, or the pending status of the Israelis currently living there, but it is definitely progress.
This news has proved controversial, causing people to consider whether or not a real peace deal could be around the corner. The major topic of contention between the two countries, the Golan Heights, is a region in the northern part of the country which Israel took from Syria in the '67 war. The nations talked throughout the '90s, but in 2000 Israel, the only non-Arab democratic state in the Middle East, having a landmass smaller than the state of New Jersey, refused to cede back a "ten-metre-wide strip of the Golan Heights bordering the Sea of Galilee, to guarantee Israel's control of the source of 40% of its fresh water. " This refusal marked the cessation of talks between then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Syrian President Hafez Assad, who died shortly after. Assad was succeeded by his son Bashar. The countries did not exchange discourse, largely at the will of the Israelis, until earlier this month when top Syrian legal adviser Riad Daoudi said that his country was now ready for talks, with a quote from a Syrian delegate saying the Syrians are ready to negotiate without preconditions and that they will "come to the table with all that we are and all that we have, including our relationships", which could elude to ties to Hezbollah, Iran and Hamaas.
Current Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and his predecessor, Ariel Sharon have repeatedly shot down any advances Syria has tried to make toward them, but the current Israeli parliament is divided on the issue. Those in favor argue that the possible benefits outweigh the risks of dealing with Syria, while skeptics say Bashar Assad is only pretending to want a peace deal as an attempt to gain American support.
In the aftermath of this summer's battles with Hezbollah, and Lebanon's sloth-like recovery from the damage, Israel may soon be engaged in another battle with Lebanon, which would push them even further from any Palestinian peace agreement that may or may not be in the makings, causing some to see Syrian peace talks as the best, if not only, alternative to more military action.
Both Israeli and Syrian governments have issued "strong denials" of their knowledge of these proceedings, but there are reports that Syrian officials had some indirect involvement. Olmert runs the huge risk of "being eaten alive by hardliners in his increasingly fragile coalition if he were seen to entertain the idea" of negotiations with Syria. There is no clear answer as to how this story was leaked, or as to how the politics of the proposed deal would work themselves out, especially with an Israeli people so opposed to negotiations with Syria.
My personal opinion, having spent 10 days in Israel over winter break, visiting the Golan Heights, coming a little too close for comfort to the Syrian border (after getting lost on a hike through the mountains of the Upper Galilee), and learning firsthand from Israeli citizens and soldiers about this disputed region , is that perhaps it would be beneficial for Israel to stop turning a deaf ear to Syria's requests, and to possibly come to the table and draw up plans for peace agreements. I am, however, extremely wary of the degree to which Syria should be trusted or considered an ally by any means. Driving through the Golan Heights today, there is very little to be seen apart from mine fields that remain active, due to Syria's refusal to turn over the maps of them, and abandoned Israeli settlements. Yes, the natural beauty and general quietness of the area still attract a good number of tourists and vacationers, Israeli and foreign alike, but the overall existence of the area has become one of resentment that can be sensed in the Israeli attitude toward Syria. Much of the vastness of the Golan Heights serves as a training site for the Israeli Defense Forces, and off-road jeeps take tourists through cleared paths in the minefields to educate them on the situation, and allow them to overlook the borders with Syria and Lebanon, but overall, the quietness of this land comes from a bitter silence between Syrians and Israelis, both of whom feel an attachment to it. I also feel that it is in Israel's best interest to keep this land, as it offers them a physical wall of protection against military attack, separating Israel's cities and industry from Syria and, in parts, Lebanon. While negotiations may be beneficial in that they will break the long silence between the two countries' governments, I see them being long and drawn out, and not reaching an end until one of the two countries accepts a deal vastly different from the ideal.
The Economist "Why Can't They Just Make Peace? Israel and Syria" 20 January, 2007
This week, Haaretz, a major Israeli newspaper, broke the news of secret dealings between Syrians and Israelis for the past two years, producing the outline of a possible peace deal between the two nations, who, to put it lightly, are not on speaking terms.
It has been said that this secret communicative channel developed after Israelis refused an offer for talks in 2004. The talks took place between former ambassador Alon Liel and Ibrahim Suleiman, a citizen of Syria residing in Washington, DC., who is presumably close with Syrian President Bashir Assad. The two held eight meetings, mediated by a Swiss diplomat. The plan calls for the return of all of the Golan Heights to Syria, making it a demilitarised national park, into which Israelis can enter without obtaining visa. Israel's water supply would be safeguarded, and both countries would have zones of reduced military presence along their borders. The plan fails to address some major issues, such as the Syrian refugees who were expelled from the Golan, or the pending status of the Israelis currently living there, but it is definitely progress.
This news has proved controversial, causing people to consider whether or not a real peace deal could be around the corner. The major topic of contention between the two countries, the Golan Heights, is a region in the northern part of the country which Israel took from Syria in the '67 war. The nations talked throughout the '90s, but in 2000 Israel, the only non-Arab democratic state in the Middle East, having a landmass smaller than the state of New Jersey, refused to cede back a "ten-metre-wide strip of the Golan Heights bordering the Sea of Galilee, to guarantee Israel's control of the source of 40% of its fresh water. " This refusal marked the cessation of talks between then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Syrian President Hafez Assad, who died shortly after. Assad was succeeded by his son Bashar. The countries did not exchange discourse, largely at the will of the Israelis, until earlier this month when top Syrian legal adviser Riad Daoudi said that his country was now ready for talks, with a quote from a Syrian delegate saying the Syrians are ready to negotiate without preconditions and that they will "come to the table with all that we are and all that we have, including our relationships", which could elude to ties to Hezbollah, Iran and Hamaas.
Current Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and his predecessor, Ariel Sharon have repeatedly shot down any advances Syria has tried to make toward them, but the current Israeli parliament is divided on the issue. Those in favor argue that the possible benefits outweigh the risks of dealing with Syria, while skeptics say Bashar Assad is only pretending to want a peace deal as an attempt to gain American support.
In the aftermath of this summer's battles with Hezbollah, and Lebanon's sloth-like recovery from the damage, Israel may soon be engaged in another battle with Lebanon, which would push them even further from any Palestinian peace agreement that may or may not be in the makings, causing some to see Syrian peace talks as the best, if not only, alternative to more military action.
Both Israeli and Syrian governments have issued "strong denials" of their knowledge of these proceedings, but there are reports that Syrian officials had some indirect involvement. Olmert runs the huge risk of "being eaten alive by hardliners in his increasingly fragile coalition if he were seen to entertain the idea" of negotiations with Syria. There is no clear answer as to how this story was leaked, or as to how the politics of the proposed deal would work themselves out, especially with an Israeli people so opposed to negotiations with Syria.
My personal opinion, having spent 10 days in Israel over winter break, visiting the Golan Heights, coming a little too close for comfort to the Syrian border (after getting lost on a hike through the mountains of the Upper Galilee), and learning firsthand from Israeli citizens and soldiers about this disputed region , is that perhaps it would be beneficial for Israel to stop turning a deaf ear to Syria's requests, and to possibly come to the table and draw up plans for peace agreements. I am, however, extremely wary of the degree to which Syria should be trusted or considered an ally by any means. Driving through the Golan Heights today, there is very little to be seen apart from mine fields that remain active, due to Syria's refusal to turn over the maps of them, and abandoned Israeli settlements. Yes, the natural beauty and general quietness of the area still attract a good number of tourists and vacationers, Israeli and foreign alike, but the overall existence of the area has become one of resentment that can be sensed in the Israeli attitude toward Syria. Much of the vastness of the Golan Heights serves as a training site for the Israeli Defense Forces, and off-road jeeps take tourists through cleared paths in the minefields to educate them on the situation, and allow them to overlook the borders with Syria and Lebanon, but overall, the quietness of this land comes from a bitter silence between Syrians and Israelis, both of whom feel an attachment to it. I also feel that it is in Israel's best interest to keep this land, as it offers them a physical wall of protection against military attack, separating Israel's cities and industry from Syria and, in parts, Lebanon. While negotiations may be beneficial in that they will break the long silence between the two countries' governments, I see them being long and drawn out, and not reaching an end until one of the two countries accepts a deal vastly different from the ideal.
The Economist "Why Can't They Just Make Peace? Israel and Syria" 20 January, 2007
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