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Last update - 12:49 11/06/2008 Despite Egypt snub, Syria is returning to the Arab fold By Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's absence from Tuesday's summit of Arab Mediterranean countries, which was planned by Libya, should not come as a surprise. It is merely a natural continuation of the boycott led by Mubarak and Saudi King Abdullah against Syrian President Bashar Assad, who attended the meeting. The reasons for the snub are Assad's opposition to the establishment of an international court to investigate the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri; the stumbling blocks Damascus placed on the way to a solution to the political crisis that gripped Lebanon in the last year and a half; and Assad's 2006 speech in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, in which he labeled Arab leaders "half men" after they criticized Hezbollah for its conduct during the war with Israel. The Saudi-Egyptian blacklist of Assad was dramatically displayed in the refusal of the two heads of state to participate in an Arab summit in Damascus in March. Advertisement But signs suggest the boycott is likely to dissolve in the near future. Egypt conditions its reconciliation with Syria on Damascus' reconciliation with Saudi Arabia, a condition echoed by the ruler of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. A reconciliation with Syria is Mubarak's next objective, after helping bring the Lebanese political crisis to a close, thanks in no small part to Assad. Mubarak is likely to give the honor of bridging between the two sides to Qatar, and not to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who hoped to play matchmaker on Tuesday. In order to advance the Arab reconciliation, Assad will probably announce the establishment of a Syrian embassy in Lebanon. Such an announcement is likely to follow the inauguration of a new Lebanese government, which Assad will honor on a visit to Beirut. If all this should indeed come to fruition, it will amount to an historic concession on the part of Damascus of its traditional line, which perceives Lebanon as an indivisible part of Syria. Assad is thereby likely to expedite his return to the Arab fold and to Europe's - and particularly France's - favor. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a fleeting visit to Beirut last Saturday, said that he would invite Assad to a Mediterranean summit planned to take place in Paris during the second half of July. Sarkozy also promised to visit Damascus if a Syrian embassy does open in Lebanon. The renewal of Israeli-Syrian peace talks also contributes to this reconciliation process by bringing Damascus closer to circle of countries considered "moderate." Assad is thus preparing himself for the U.S. administration that will replace Bush in the White House: with an improved relationship with France; an historic reconciliation with Lebanon; a negotiations channel with Israel; and a renewed alliance with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both U.S. allies. All of which entails giving up very little in return. The new Lebanese president enjoys close relations with Syria; Hezbollah holds the most important cards in the government; and Damascus is conducting negotiations that would see the return of the Golan Heights. All of this is likely to bring Syria back to the Arab troika that leads the way on all matters relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Related articles: Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad ANALYSIS: Isolating Syria serves to highlight its importance ANALYSIS: Keeping Iran away from 'members-only' Arab club Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gilad's tale VIDEO: U.S. kids read abducted soldier's story of co-existence. Leaving Torah behind Study finds religion is not very important to American Jews.   1.   good job Mubarak 12:38  |  Omar 11/06/08   2.   Omar - Forget the Golan. It will never be returned. You arabs 12:58  |  A 11/06/08   3.   1.omar,despite all these efforts Syria will not abandon Iran 14:38  |  lakshmi 11/06/08   4.   # 1 Omar of Cairo....We can only hope 16:26  |  Lynn 11/06/08   5.   lakshmi...the Crime Syndicate now includes most 16:27  |  Lynn 11/06/08   6.   # 2 thief 16:29  |  Omar 11/06/08   7.   # 2 thief 16:29  |  Omar 11/06/08   8.   don`t let egyptians or saudis fool you;their madness to their... 17:22  |  glenna 11/06/08   9.   Syria and Iran - a temporary marriage of convenience 17:25  |  john 11/06/08   10.   #2 A 18:28  |  Courcey 11/06/08   11.   to courcey 21:13  |  FalluJah 11/06/08

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