A serious proposal from Syria

[JohnLocke]

A serious proposal
Haaretz - December 30, 2003

Note: "from Syria" added to subject line for clarity. Thanks for your understanding,.

Syrian President Bashar Assad took Israel by surprise early this month by calling for the renewal of negotiations that have been frozen since the spring of 2000, shortly before his father Hafez Assad died. Israel has not replied formally to the proposal, thereby revealing differences of opinion among diplomatic policy-makers. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is afraid Assad is trying to "trick" Israel so as to deflect American threats of sanctions against Syria for its continued support of terrorism and developing WMD (weapons of mass destruction). On the other hand, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called for a "pursuit of all options" on the Syrian track and for not turning aside from a hand stretched out in peace, especially if it transpires that negotiations with the Palestinians have reached a stalemate.
There is little doubt that Assad's proposal and its timing were influenced by growing American pressure and threats that Syria would be "next in line" following the conquest of Iraq, the UN nuclear restraint imposed on Iran, and Libya's agreement to scrap its WMD. However, even if Assad's motivation derives from strategic weakness rather than a sudden interest in Israel, his proposal still deserves serious and sincere scrutiny.
(...)
The price of peace with Syria is known to all and it formed the basis of previous discussions between the two states -- a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights and dismantling of the settlements and projects that Israel has set up there, in return for appropriate security arrangements, elimination of terror organizations and the military infrastructure of Hezbollah, and normalization of ties with Damascus and Beirut.
The fact that Syria is relatively weak at present is no reason to avoid negotiations. On the contrary, it strengthens Israel's hand and offers hope that the Syrian positions that were so rigid in the past will be more flexible, and that Israel mightget more in return for giving back the territory conquered in 1967.
(...)
Any successful conclusion to a dialogue with the Syrians would also make it easier for Israel to deal with the Palestinians, since the threat of a second front in the north would be removed.

Read the rest here.

[JohnLocke]

1. Kick

[Jack Rabbit]

2. This is something that needs to be seriously examined

We know Israel has nukes. One can look online and find evidence of Syria's biochemical weapons program that pre-dates the Bush junta and is a lot better than what that den of liars presented about Saddam's arsenal.

An armed conflict between Israel and Syria can get very, very deadly very, very fast. It is something about which to worry. Anything that would alleviate tensions between the two nations should be encouraged.

This is not something to be neglected. Even without the Palestinian issue complicating the matter, tensions between Israel and Syria have the potential of rising to the level of those between India and Pakistan.

[bemildred]

3. You are correct, Jack.

Playing chicken with Syria is a mugs game.

[JohnLocke]

4. Hopefully peace will prevail between Syria and Israel...

...much like Egypt and Jordan.