Syria & Israel: Why Now?

Last month, a lot was made in the media about Israel's mysterious air raid in Northern Syria on Sept 6, 2007 when the news broke that the CIA has confirmed to Congress that the target was a nuclear reactor built with North Korean help. At that time, Israel's silence about the incident and the Syrian president's behavior were pointing to a more important story and I wrote about this previously on the Huffington Post on April 24.

Today, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has announced that Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey.

A statement released by Olmert's office said the sides "have declared their intent to conduct these talks in good faith and openly".

Direct and indirect peace negotiations between Syria and Israel are not anything new. In 1991, Syrian and Israeli officials confronted each other at the Madrid Peace conference, exchanging charges and accusations. Then there were the formal U.S.-sponsored Israel-Syria talks which nearly resulted in an agreement in 2000, but broke down over final border and peace arrangements. Syria has consistently demanded the return of the entire Golan Heights down to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Israel's main water source, in return for peace. But Israel insisted on a partial withdrawal.

Why now?

These talks are long overdue but Olmert's timing in making this announcement is questionable in light of the Israeli Prime Minister's present legal troubles. No doubt this news will give Olmert a short-lived break from the skewering of the Israeli media. However, the real story here is that Olmert must have received the green light to pursue these talks from U.S. President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Israel on its 60th anniversary. Bush must have finally realized that his policy of isolating Syria has failed and a peace treaty between Syria and Israel will certainly put the brakes on Iran's influence in the region, especially in Lebanon.

More: The Taming of the Lion

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Comments

[Lon]

The Israelis have generally made progress towards peace with other countries when talks with the Palestinians are failing and vice versa. It has long been in the interests of both Syria and Israel to reach a deal.

Presumably either the US gave its tacit approval or Olmert decided he doesn't now need US tacit approval. I don't see any reason to think that the former is more likely than the latter.

Bush doesn't seem to have done more with his peace initiative than periodically predicting unrealistic success. He may simply have made himself irrelevant.

[leonardox1]

This is a win-win situation for both Israel and Syria. If the deal goes through Lebanon will follow soon afterwards and a deal will be finalized with the Palestinians after Syria gets rid of the ney-sayers in Damascus like Hamas and other extremist groups.

[burnt]

"Today, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has announced that Israel and Syria are holding indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey."

Thank you President Carter. Your initiative to help kickstart dialog demonstrates the direction we must turn to achieve any lasting solution to all parties gaining mutual respect in the Middle East.

That the CheneyOilCo has fought so hard to prevent any chance of meaningful dialog between contentious parties, should not deter those of us who seek restart of diplomacy as a time proven method to achieve peace and equity... over a greedy policy of oil acquisition through military domination and occupation.

I can only hope that reason prevails.

alienated in Seattle

[jad114]

I don't think that this breakthrough for Olmert will save him from his legal troubles. Al Assad might find himself dealing with less cooprative players like Netanyahu if and when Olmert is forced to resign and new elections are held in Israel.

[S1m0n]

That's the same CIA that declared an aerial photograph of a few trucks parked out front of a nondiscript building to be a super-duper Iraqi secret WMD facility. Viewer discretion is advised.

[MagisterLudi]

P.S.While addressing Israeli situation this blog completely fails to address the Syrian side of the equation.
There are two sides to this negotiation.
It would be interesting for the Huffpo readers to find out the Syrian perspective.

However, this blogger sticks to the usual ( and somewhat tiresome) Israeli bashing policy.

It is amazing that this Palestinian blogger, despite elite Western education, still choses to sacrifice basic tenants of balanced journalism on the altar of political expediency.

[jad114]

Israeli bashing? where? Also, the the Syrian side was explained in his previous blog on April 24 which he provided a link for on Huff

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamal-dajani/the-taming-of-the-assad-l_b_98499.html

[MagisterLudi]

"Bush must have finally realized that his policy of isolating Syria has failed."

Bush is responsible for many national and international disasters in the last 7 years. His presidency has been like the Dark Ages for US.
However, isolating Syria was not one of those disasters. It actually worked quite well.

Now for facts:
Some reasons why Syrains are eager to negotiate:

1.The rulers of Syria crave Western acceptance. Proof: Syria DEMANDS American participation in the negotiations. Not E.U., not Arab League, but American(!)....

2.They want off the "sponsors of terrorism" list. Desperately. Syrian economical and political situation is moribund and on the verge of collapse. They need an influx of investment that only Western acceptance can provide.

3.Syria is stuck in their self-created Golan Heights-or- bust propagandist narrative. Only negotiated peace agreement w/Israel can help Syria save enough "face" to get out of that financially and economically ruinous policy.

[justice2008]

Why now? What had happened in Lebanon and Hezbollah's recent victory have finally convinced this Administration that it is better to talk to Syria. Please forgive them as they are slow learners.