by Antonia Dimou
A major area of concern for all of us today involves conflict resolution. People everywhere in our region deserve an era of regional prosperity, of partnerships that deliver jobs, better education and stability. Yet, no country in the Middle East can realize its full potential while the region is in conflict.
To achieve peace, sides that have long defined themselves in opposition to each other must develop a new psychology. The psychology of conflict however, is difficult to break. But history, including that of Europe, shows that even the bitterest adversaries can make the transition when peace delivers on its promise - when human energies and material resources once drained by hostilities are channelled toward building national infrastructure, and promoting good governance. As entire societies become stakeholders in the new status quo, peace becomes self-reinforcing.
Today, what becomes more urgent than ever before, is the need to strengthen our common action for Israel and Syria. It is time for Israeli and Syrian leaders to recognize the enormity of the responsibility that they bear, not only for the future security, stability and prosperity of their people, but for the well-being of our entire region.
The second issue of the Middle East Observer deals with the mapping of the peace process between Israel and Syria and the prospects for the resumption of negotiations with the mediation of a third party. The most recent Syrian-Israeli proximity talks orchestrated by Turkey in 2008 revived a long-dormant track of the Arab-Israeli peace process and laid the "bottom lines" of Israel and Syria for peace, though the talks were suspended because of the Israeli military operations in Gaza. Israel's "bottom line" for peace with Syria is the disengagement of Damascus from Iran, and the Islamic organisations of Hamas and Hizbollah, while Syria's "bottom line" for peace with Israel is the return of the Golan Heights and tracts in the Jordan River Valley.
Our contributors have presented their views on the content of Israeli-Syrian talks, offered a background of the Turkish mediation constructive role, presented Syrian and Israeli demands as well as their respective reservations and proposed key-provisions for the resumption of the stalled peace talks. The featured interview of Itamar Rabinovich, Israel's former Ambassador to the United States and former Chief Negotiator with Syria in the mid 1990's, underscores that Israel needs more than a demilitarized Golan - which is too small an area - as the need is for a much larger area of limited deployment and a monitoring station on Mt. Hermon. Ambassador Rabinovich concludes with a valid question as to if the Syrian regime is ready to take the risk of a genuine opening up.
In the quest of Israeli-Syrian relations, Prof. Najib Ghadbian presents a Syrian perspective and acknowledges that for the resolution of the conflict between Syria and Israel, both governments must demonstrate determination in leading their respective public and to make all necessary concessions. In the same spirit, Dr. Alon Ben-Meir supports that Syria must be a top priority for Israel and underscores that if Syria offers peace, normalization of relations and meets Israel's legitimate security concerns while Israel still refuses, the Golan will become a national liability rather than a national security asset.
Additionally, Prof. Meliha Altunisik provides a blueprint of the mediation role of Turkey and supports that for all the parties involved, the US engagement seems nowadays to be necessary for the process to move forward with appropriate security and financial commitments. And, that Turkey could still be a partner if that process starts.
Finally, Ayman Abdel-Nour points out in his analysis, the roles of key-players for the resumption of Israeli-Syrian peace talks and explains Syrian intransigence through the prism of the fact that the current situation helps the Syrian regime avoid any liability for its poor performance in economy and its human rights record - at least till the liberation of the Golan Heights.
