Israel Resource Review |
6th July, 2008 |
Contents:
Golan Retreat promoter Liel: Syria would drop Iran if USA would arm it to the teet
Carolynne Wheeler, The Daily Telegraph
[Commentary from Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
"They are asking not only for the Golan Heights but a change in Washington
that will break the Syrian isolation internationally," said Mr. Liel. "But I also think they will not do it unless they are assured they have an
alternative to Iran."
The Iranians aren't Syria's drinking buddies or play partners. They are
intimately involved in arming Syria.
So when Alon Liel says "an alternative to Iran" it is more guns than butter.
Why doesn't Mr. Liel think that arming Syria to the teeth with made in USA
weapons is a problem?
No.
Simple: because he genuinely believes (or more appropriately "religiously"
believes - since this is considerably more a matter of faith than logic)
that once Israel completely withdraws from the Golan Heights Israel will
enjoy utopian peace - just as retreat to the '67 lines in the West Bank
would bring utopian with the Palestinians.
Why then the efforts to come up with various security arrangements on paper?
That's just to satisfy those unwashed Israeli masses and Neanderthal
Israeli leaders who don't share Mr. Liel's appreciation of this ultimate
truth.]
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Syria 'would break links with Iran' if America steps in to help it
By Carolynne Wheeler in Jerusalem Sunday Telegraph (UK)
Last updated: 12:11 a.m. BST 06/07/2008
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/2253080/Syria-%27would-break-links-with-Iran%27-if-America-steps-in-to-help-it.html
Syria is ready to break off its close links with Iran if America gives it
financial and military backing, a former Israeli diplomat involved in
unofficial peace talks has revealed to The Sunday Telegraph.
According to the official, who has been engaged in low-key "second track"
discussions with Syrian representatives for many months, Syria's President
Bashar Assad is increasingly open to a deal which would greatly weaken
Iranian influence in the region.
Alon Liel, a former director of Israel's foreign ministry, said the prospect
of a peace agreement with Syria was growing, though it might require a new
American president before a deal could be agreed. Syria's support for
radical groups including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hizbollah, both also
backed by Iran, has played a large part in fomenting trouble in the Middle
East.
For any peace agreement to be struck between Israel and Syria, it would
first be necessary to agree on the future of the Golan Heights - the lofty
piece of territory claimed by Syria but occupied by Israel, which supplies
much of that country's drinking water.
"They are asking not only for the Golan Heights but a change in Washington
that will break the Syrian isolation internationally," said Mr Liel. "But I
also think they will not do it unless they are assured they have an
alternative to Iran."
Israel and Syria resumed indirect negotiations in March, mediated by Turkey,
and two days of meetings this week have ended with promises to reconvene at
the end of the month. The Turkish foreign minister, Ali Babacan, said the
meetings mark an "initial stage" in resumed diplomacy.
Now, all eyes will turn to next weekend's conference of Mediterranean
nations in France, where for the first time the Israeli prime minister, Ehud
Olmert, and the foreign minister Tzipi Livni will sit alongside their Syrian
counterparts, President Assad and his foreign minister, Walid Ali Muallim.
It has been speculated that Mr Olmert and Mr Assad may shake hands, an act
of simple courtesy which would speak volumes about warming relations between
the two, although Syrian officials have warned that Mr Assad is not yet
ready to do so.
"I don't think it matters. What is more important is that these discussions
are going on," said a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, Arye
Mekel.
Mr Olmert called last week for the two sides to begin direct, face-to-face
talks "very soon".
"With the Syrians, we are talking seriously and in my estimation very soon
the negotiations will have to be direct. They will not be able to continue
in the mode in which they are currently being held," Mr Olmert said.
The Syrian foreign minister, Mr Ali Muallim, said such a meeting would be
"premature" but has not ruled it out.
Mr Liel said "months" of negotiation still lie ahead to overcome the gaps
between the two sides. But there is believed to have been progress on the
Golan Heights, as well as on claims to fresh water in the region.
Israel has been reluctant to withdraw from the Golan because of its
strategic position above Syria, while many Israelis have been so taken with
its wild beauty that they have built wineries and boutique hotels. The Golan
front has also been quiet for years, providing little incentive to resolve
the conflict.
"The Golan Heights is considered our Tuscany. Israelis fell in love with the Golan - and it's a very easy conflict for us. That's why it's so difficult to convince Israel to withdraw," Mr Liel said.
Syria, which demands the return of all of Golan, has promised to allow
Israelis to continue to enter the western part without visas, though the
future of Israeli businesses and towns there is uncertain.
More seriously, the Golan provides more than half of Israel's drinking water
and in this year of drought, the biblical Sea of Galilee - known in Israel
as Lake Kinneret - is already at dangerously low levels, making Israel
reluctant to give it up.
But Turkey is already said to have promised to supply more water to Syria,
and possibly to the rest of the region, by drawing on the Euphrates, Tigris
or Seyhan rivers. Syria has also demanded the building of a desalination
plant in exchange for letting Israel continue to draw drinking water from
the Golan.
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