Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 30, 2008 Adar2 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:09 28/03/2008 Syria and Palestine first By Akiva Eldar Tags: Syria, Arab Peace Initiative  Once every few months the reports about the negotiations with the Palestinians are replaced by news about the Syrian channel. The news this week was that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told foreign correspondents he is willing to make peace with Syria and expressed hope that circumstances will be ripe for renewed talks with Damascus. This was preceded by leaks about secret contacts mediated by Turkey and open messages via Russia. Again the politicians are repeating the argument that it is easier and safer to do business with Syrian President Bashar Assad's sovereign regime than with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' weak government. Again the pundits are writing that Jerusalem's rapprochement with Damascus will keep Syria away from Tehran, undermine Hezbollah's strength and restrain Hamas. Four birds with one set of negotiations. And again, before we discover whether this time we are talking about genuine developments, the call "Syria first" is being heard. Until next time. Advertisement Thus the Syrian option is hovering in the political atmosphere and conveying the sweet illusion that if the Palestinian channel is blocked, Israel will not be bereft. Around the corner awaits a more attractive Syrian bride. First we will sign a peace treaty with Syria, and eventually, when the Palestinians turn into Finns, as Dov Weissglas said (as though the Syrians are Swedes), we will talk to them about what remains of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It would be irresponsible to repeat the strategic mistake of Ehud Barak, who put then-PA chief Yasser Arafat on ice until the treaty with Hafez Assad ripened. With Syria, Israel has a border conflict (until proven otherwise). On the other hand, the conflict with the Palestinians touches on the roots of the state's ethnic national identity and its symbols. Jerusalem is sacred to the Arabs, including the Palestinians, unlike Majdal Shams. A peace treaty with the Palestinians, which would offer a consensual solution to the dispute over the Temple Mount, would bring about a significant change in Israel's relations with the Arab and Muslim world. It is difficult to assume that such a change would take place in the wake of peace with Syria, at a time when the bloody conflict with the Palestinians continues, centering on the question of Jerusalem and the refugee problem. Let's assume Barak had not gotten cold feet at the last moment and had returned home in January 2000 from the Shepherdstown talks with a peace treaty with Syria. The central item then-president Bill Clinton submitted to the parties in the draft agreement was a full withdrawal form the Golan. After Syria had received the Golan Heights, to the last meter more or less, Arafat would have been pushed into toughening his stance on the territorial issue in general and Jerusalem in particular. At present the confrontation with Hamas limits the margins of Abbas' concessions even further. On the other hand, boycotting Syria does not promote progress in the Palestinian channel, to put it mildly. The threads from Damascus (and Tehran) lead to the bastions of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From there they infiltrate the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and here and there they also reach the Arab community in Israel. The question is therefore not whether Israel is interested in renewing diplomatic negotiations with Syria and opening the way to an agreement with Lebanon. It is hard to exaggerate the value of a peace treaty with an Arab country on the Israeli border that is stockpiling long-range missiles. Even if Syria does not hurry to part from Iran and sever its connections with Hezbollah and Hamas, an end to the conflict between it and the Jewish state would be an achievement for the pragmatic axis (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) in its difficult struggle with the extremist Sunni-Shi'ite axis. It may turn out Assad is interested only in negotiations and not their outcome. But Olmert must put the seriousness of the Syrian president's intentions to a real test. We should talk to everyone, about everything, all the time. After all, Olmert claims he accepts the principles of the Arab peace initiative. It says there: a full peace in exchange for all the territories. Without exceptions. To receive concessions we need negotiations. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror online Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.   1.   akiva and the acceptance of hot air instead of performance ! 11:17  |  v hardman 28/03/08   2.   Syria and Palestine first: Breath of Fresh Air 12:39  |  Vinegar Hill 28/03/08   3.   Addressing some false impressions 13:13  |  Natallie Durson 28/03/08   4.   Vinegar Hill: sensible attitude towards negotiation ? 14:40  |  Ernst 28/03/08   5.   WHAT A FOOL 14:51  |  indrajaya 28/03/08   6.   Unless there is a pro-Israeli Government in Syria 14:59  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   7.   The govt. has no right to negotiate with our enemies behind our b 15:45  |  Chaim 28/03/08   8.   No peace-Israel is going to end up in the trash bin 16:07  |  Dutch 28/03/08   9.   #1 Don`t make me laugh with your impossible conditions 16:23  |  Dutch 28/03/08   10.   Akiva, Right on! Let`s have negotiatiions 16:33  |  Dutch 28/03/08   11.   Vitor Hardman, Don`t make me laugh 16:48  |  Dutch 28/03/08   12.   Chaim, I have news for you 16:57  |  Dutch 28/03/08   13.   What is the land of Israel 17:08  |  roger wallace 28/03/08   14.   #7more from doris cadigan the back to front 17:15  |  v hardman 28/03/08   15.   Yes, please. 17:32  |  English Resident 28/03/08   16.   Talk ? Okay, But, Israelies, Don`t Continue to Be Stupid 17:33  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/03/08   17.   Akram Zekaria. #6 destroy Syria 18:27  |  maimon 28/03/08   18.   Akiva, Olmert, and Ben-Eliezer are TRAITORS, ENEMIES of all Jews 19:14  |  Ephraim Smith 28/03/08   19.   Syria and Iran Will Talk, While Iran Tests the Bomb 19:41  |  Dave Levy 28/03/08   20.   # 3 Just the opposite is the case, Fatmah.... 19:45  |  misha 28/03/08   21.   one can educe the inference from facts 20:25  |  bozhidar bob balkas 28/03/08   22.   Can the current Gov.really talk to Syria...? 22:06  |  Stephen. 28/03/08   23.   Return the Golen Heights all of it RIGHT ??? 00:42  |  M. S. 29/03/08   24.   @12 Dutch. You`re as misinformed about polls as everything else. 03:14  |  Chaim 29/03/08   25.   Cut your losses 11:10  |  Lobo08 29/03/08   26.   #25 lobo08. Read "The War of Dreams" for real source of conflict 19:34  |  Chaim 29/03/08   27.   Pesimismo desde lejos 22:03  |  Augusto de Cartagena 29/03/08

Today Online Dutch MP's anti-Islam film shows clerics' calls to behead Jews Responses: 567 Hamas gets Iranian plans for improved Qassams Responses: 152 Avigdor Lieberman: Israel's minorities must be loyal to the Jewish state Responses: 120 UN: Ex-Lebanon PM Hariri killed by criminal network Responses: 112 Ex-Muslim says converted to Christianity due to Islam's anti-Zionism Responses: 156 More Headlines 02:11 Top official: PM has communicated with Assad to test his desire for peace 03:04 UN wants UNIFIL to have full responsibility in northern Ghajar 00:35 Rice arrives in Israel, urges improvements in West Bank life 01:04 Anti-Syrian protesters march in Beirut in wake of Arab summit 01:37 UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM murder case 22:24 Meshal: Shalit talks deadlocked due to Israeli intransigence 02:51 Genealogy Web site attempts to map out entire Jewish people 01:19 Palestinians: IDF kills 2 Gazans; 4 others wounded in IAF strike 10:53 Obama likens his foreign policy to that of Bush Sr., JFK, Reagan 20:13 Israeli Arabs mark 32nd annual Land Day with Wadi Ara, Negev protests 20:47 3-year-old boy critically injured as father runs him over 22:16 At Syria summit, Abbas calls for Arab troops in Palestinian territories 14:06 Security guard, 62, found dead in Tel Aviv; police suspect murder Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

Special Offers Advertisement NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved