Israel-Syria Held Secret Talks for Two Years on Peace Deal
Sorry to post so much today but this was too tasty to wait
In a series of apparently “unofficial” secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement between Israel and Syria. It is most striking how far along and comprehensive the agreement reached before talks were apparently suspended. One can only wonder how involved the US was in promoting these talks, why the talks were suspended, what could be achieved if the US were fully engaged with the Middle East regimes. It may be that the entire essence of the Democratic Party alternative to the Administrations “augmentation” is simply to talk to the stakeholders.
The Syrian representative in the talks, Ibrahim (Abe) Suleiman, an American citizen, had visited Jerusalem and delivered a message to senior officials at the Foreign Ministry regarding the Syrian wish for an agreement with Israel. The Syrians also asked for help in improving their relations with the United States, and particularly in lifting the American embargo on Syria.
For his part, the European mediator stressed that the Syrian leadership is concerned that the loss of petroleum revenues will lead to an economic crash in the country and could consequently undermine the stability of the Assad regime.
According to Geoffrey Aronson, an American from the Washington-based Foundation for Middle East Peace, who was involved in the talks, an agreement under American auspices would call for Syria to ensure that Hezbollah would limit itself to being solely a political party.
Syria would also exercise its influence for a solution to the conflict in Iraq, through an agreement between Shi’a leader Muqtada Sadr and the Sunni leadership, and in addition, it would contribute to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the refugee problem.
“This was a serious and honest effort to find creative solutions to practical problems that prevented an agreement from being reached during Barak’s [tenure as prime minister] and to create an atmosphere of building confidence between the two sides,” he said.
It also emerged that one of the Syrian messages to Israel had to do with the ties between Damascus and Tehran. In the message, the Alawi regime – the Assad family being members of the Alawi minority – asserts that it considers itself to be an integral part of the Sunni world and that it objects to the Shi’a theocratic regime, and is particularly opposed to Iran’s policy in Iraq. A senior Syrian official stressed that a peace agreement with Israel will enable Syria to distance itself from Iran.
7 Responses to “Israel-Syria Held Secret Talks for Two Years on Peace Deal”
This can’t be true, what about the Bush Doctrine, you don’t talk to your enemies. Look how successfull Camp David was, the Egyptian and Jordainian tanks are at the border……
What will Laura and Barney say…..
Bush sees diplomacy not as something essential or needed. something that is strived for above all. He sees it as weak. To do diplomacy is to be weak.
My guess is that the US probably had no dealings with the talks and something to do with the cut off.
Bush deplores it.
Wake me up when Syria ACTUALLY quits funding and supplying Hezbollah, and quits interfering in Lebanon.
Talk is cheap.
It seems to me that one doesn’t relent on pressure until the diplomatic terms are acceptable. If Syria feels stifted by the US then they may feel that it is not in their interest to retreat. The US reluctance to engage diplomatically may be just as at fault in the Middle East as those promoting violence.
Wake me up when Syria ACTUALLY quits funding and supplying Hezbollah, and quits interfering in Lebanon.
I believe that Iran is the banker for the Hezi. Syria was looking to play both sides depending on how the Bush Doctrine faired out.
One can only wonder how involved the US was in
promotingderailing these talksWe should be trying to inject ourselves between Iran and Syria, to disrupt their alliance as much as possible. Jim Baker was able to make an ally out of the Syrians during the first gulf war, so it is possible. I don’t understand what advantage is to be gained by walling ourselves off from any country that we disagree with. Even a successful Iraq would share much more in common with Iran and Syria than they would with us. Our diplomacy has hit a new low under the Bush administration-they really can’t afford to pick and choose.