Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Wall Street Journal
May 31, 2008
Pg. 6
Israeli Negotiations Need Washington, Ambassador Says
By Jay Solomon
WASHINGTON -- As Syria and Israel begin pursuing peace negotiations, Damascus is calling for the U.S. to play a direct role in brokering the talks, arguing that a successful outcome is unlikely without American participation.
To date, the Bush administration has offered only lukewarm support for the dialogue announced in May, breaking from decades of American foreign-policy doctrine that has sought to actively encourage any engagement between Jerusalem and an Arab state.
In an interview, Syria's ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, said Damascus believes the U.S. is the only country that could realistically deliver a peace deal between the two countries and that Israel's trust in the U.S. would make Washington central to actually implementing any peace agreement.
"Peace between Syria and Israel can be achieved, but it requires the full commitment of the U.S.," said Mr. Moustapha. "Syria is genuine in its desire to have the best relationship with Washington."
U.S. reluctance is fueling criticism in both Washington and Jerusalem that the Bush administration's hard line on Syria is undercutting Israel while ceding leadership in the Middle East to a third country -- in this case Turkey, which is currently brokering the dialogue.
"It's not unusual for an American administration to avoid urging reluctant parties into peace negotiations," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator based at Washington's New America Foundation. "But it's unprecedented for the U.S. not to get behind and encourage a peace negotiation once it's been launched."
U.S. officials say the Bush administration is placing a priority on supporting Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in a bid to reach a comprehensive agreement before President Bush leaves office in January. They say they see the Israel-Syria track as too undeveloped to embrace aggressively. Israeli and Syrian diplomats are indirectly exploring talks over the Golan Heights through Turkish intermediaries.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is also threatened by a corruption scandal, which could imperil the process even before it even gets off the ground.
State Department officials say none of the parties has formally requested the U.S. to become directly involved. "If Syria and Israel jointly came to us, we'd certainly consider their request," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.
The Bush administration is divided on whether or not it should more actively engage Syria. The two countries had a relatively cooperative relationship, especially on intelligence and counter-terrorism matters, until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Some U.S. strategists say Syria's openness to talks is driven by its need to reduce diplomatic and financial pressure from the Bush administration -- not a real commitment to a settlement. Washington charges Syria with covertly developing nuclear technologies and undermining pro-Western governments in Lebanon and Iraq, a charge Damascus denies. A United Nations investigation also has implicated Syrian intelligence agents in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The hardliners worry engagement could encourage Syria to further weaken Lebanon's government.
At the same time, other U.S. officials say the talks could provide the White House with an opening to achieve a key objective in its last months in office: wooing Syria away from its military alliance with Iran.
"From a U.S. perspective, Syrian-U.S. relations will have benefits because it will make Iran nervous," said a senior U.S. official familiar with intelligence on Syria.
Private American representatives who have met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in recent months said he is intent on lifting U.S. financial sanctions as part of a broader peace agreement with Israel. They also said the Syrian leader would like to see his nation's economy more directly integrated into the global economy.
Under the Clinton administration, the U.S. directly oversaw peace talks between Israel and Syria and offered economic incentives to Damascus as part of a deal, officials say. The U.S. pledged to play a monitoring role over Israel's disengagement from the Golan Heights while working to guard against any violations from either Israel or Syria.
The Syria question will likely be a major strategic dilemma for whoever succeeds Mr. Bush in January. Presidential front-runners Barack Obama and John McCain have lent support to the Israeli diplomatic initiative.
Mr. Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador, said his government remains ready to work with President Bush's successor while pursuing a peace initiative with Israel. "Regardless of who becomes the next leader in the White House, Syria wants to engage the U.S.," Mr. Moustapha said.
May 31, 2008
Pg. 6
Israeli Negotiations Need Washington, Ambassador Says
By Jay Solomon
WASHINGTON -- As Syria and Israel begin pursuing peace negotiations, Damascus is calling for the U.S. to play a direct role in brokering the talks, arguing that a successful outcome is unlikely without American participation.
To date, the Bush administration has offered only lukewarm support for the dialogue announced in May, breaking from decades of American foreign-policy doctrine that has sought to actively encourage any engagement between Jerusalem and an Arab state.
In an interview, Syria's ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, said Damascus believes the U.S. is the only country that could realistically deliver a peace deal between the two countries and that Israel's trust in the U.S. would make Washington central to actually implementing any peace agreement.
"Peace between Syria and Israel can be achieved, but it requires the full commitment of the U.S.," said Mr. Moustapha. "Syria is genuine in its desire to have the best relationship with Washington."
U.S. reluctance is fueling criticism in both Washington and Jerusalem that the Bush administration's hard line on Syria is undercutting Israel while ceding leadership in the Middle East to a third country -- in this case Turkey, which is currently brokering the dialogue.
"It's not unusual for an American administration to avoid urging reluctant parties into peace negotiations," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator based at Washington's New America Foundation. "But it's unprecedented for the U.S. not to get behind and encourage a peace negotiation once it's been launched."
U.S. officials say the Bush administration is placing a priority on supporting Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in a bid to reach a comprehensive agreement before President Bush leaves office in January. They say they see the Israel-Syria track as too undeveloped to embrace aggressively. Israeli and Syrian diplomats are indirectly exploring talks over the Golan Heights through Turkish intermediaries.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is also threatened by a corruption scandal, which could imperil the process even before it even gets off the ground.
State Department officials say none of the parties has formally requested the U.S. to become directly involved. "If Syria and Israel jointly came to us, we'd certainly consider their request," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.
The Bush administration is divided on whether or not it should more actively engage Syria. The two countries had a relatively cooperative relationship, especially on intelligence and counter-terrorism matters, until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Some U.S. strategists say Syria's openness to talks is driven by its need to reduce diplomatic and financial pressure from the Bush administration -- not a real commitment to a settlement. Washington charges Syria with covertly developing nuclear technologies and undermining pro-Western governments in Lebanon and Iraq, a charge Damascus denies. A United Nations investigation also has implicated Syrian intelligence agents in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The hardliners worry engagement could encourage Syria to further weaken Lebanon's government.
At the same time, other U.S. officials say the talks could provide the White House with an opening to achieve a key objective in its last months in office: wooing Syria away from its military alliance with Iran.
"From a U.S. perspective, Syrian-U.S. relations will have benefits because it will make Iran nervous," said a senior U.S. official familiar with intelligence on Syria.
Private American representatives who have met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in recent months said he is intent on lifting U.S. financial sanctions as part of a broader peace agreement with Israel. They also said the Syrian leader would like to see his nation's economy more directly integrated into the global economy.
Under the Clinton administration, the U.S. directly oversaw peace talks between Israel and Syria and offered economic incentives to Damascus as part of a deal, officials say. The U.S. pledged to play a monitoring role over Israel's disengagement from the Golan Heights while working to guard against any violations from either Israel or Syria.
The Syria question will likely be a major strategic dilemma for whoever succeeds Mr. Bush in January. Presidential front-runners Barack Obama and John McCain have lent support to the Israeli diplomatic initiative.
Mr. Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador, said his government remains ready to work with President Bush's successor while pursuing a peace initiative with Israel. "Regardless of who becomes the next leader in the White House, Syria wants to engage the U.S.," Mr. Moustapha said.