The Jewish Communit
ib-
o
Bridge To The mature
•
The road to peace between Israel and Syria
runs through Washington. That makes
for long and tricky going.
JAMES D. BESSER
peace process group. "The U.S. role
looms much larger [than in the
Israeli-Palestinian talks] because these
She herdstown, W.
are countries that have had virtually
ew seasoned Mideast nego-
no contact for 50 years. If left to their
tiations observers were sur-
own devices, they are more likely to
prised this week when, as
pour salt than salve on their wounds."
the talks snagged over dis-
Also, he said, Syrian President
agreements on what to talk about,
Hafez Assad's drive to improve rela-
President Bill Clinton was there to
tions with Washington requires such a
hold the negotiators' hands, to cajole,
U.S. role.
nudge and plead.
Israeli officials concede such
Administration officials know that
motives on behalf of the reclusive
only an unusually active U.S. role can
Syrian president, but say what matters
achieve success for two sides close on
is if he signs a detailed agreement that
the details of an agreement — but
includes what Barak deems sufficient
psychologically far apart.
security guarantees.
But an expanded U.S.
"Of course, we would like
Opposite page, top, to see Assad come to
role, say many observers, has
President Bill
risks, especially because it
Jerusalem, or shake hands
Clinton speaks
could lead to expectations
with the prime minister at a
with Israeli Prime meeting in the region," said
that Washington can't back
Minister Ehud
up. To critics, it merely
one Israeli official. "We're
Barak, left, and
reflects a peace process in
not blind; we know he is
Syrian Foreign
which the Syrians have little
thinking
about U.S. aid
Minister Farouk
interest in making peace with Sharaa.
and about getting off the
Israel, but much focus on
[State Department] terrorist
cultivating ties with
list. But if the road to
Washington.
alem_ runs through Washington,
erusalem
Jerus
"It suggests that even if an agree-
that's OK as long as the results
ment is reached, it would be grudg-
include a good agreement."
ing," said Daniel Pipes, a Mideast
Some observers agree. "What the
analyst critical of the current peace
Israelis want is a deal that looks really
process. But he does not blame
good on paper, with a lot of details in
Clinton. "The administration is giv-
it, meticulously worked out so any
ing [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud]
successor regime in Syria would know
Barak what he wants," Pipes added.
exactly what the expectations are,"
"And Barak is reflecting the Israeli
said Dr. Naomi Weinberg, a professor
body politic, which simply wants out,
of political science at Yeshiva
and is willing to give the Syrians any-
University.
thing they want."
Joel Singer, an Israeli lawyer work-
The central U.S. role quickly
ing in Washington and a veteran of
boiled to the surface on Tuesday,
earlier Israeli-Syrian negotiations, said
when the Syrians wanted to start with
President Clinton's heavy investment
the question of borders — and the
this week — and Barak's willingness
Israelis insisted on beginning with
to come back for Round Two instead
security. After another round of presi-
of sending his foreign minister —
dential intervention, the "procedural
shows how close Israel and Syria are
hurdle" was overcome, according to a
to an agreement.
State Department spokesman.
Both sides want close U.S. involve-
But nobody expected that would
ment, Singer said, because "at the end
be the last 911 call to the White
of the day, the two parties will also
House.
turn their faces and maybe their hands
"We are still at least a dozen crises
to the United States to contribute its
away from an agreement," said
own share to the success of the negoti-
Thomas Smerling, Washington direc-
ations — beyond their good advice."
tor for the Israel Policy Forum, a pro-
BRIDGE To THE FUTURE on page 22
Washington Correspondent
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