US and Syria should meet halfway

When Syrian-Israeli talks began indirectly through Turkish mediation in mid-2008, the Syrians had three conditions. One was that talks cannot deal with the future of Hamas and Hezbollah, as a pre-condition for any peace negotiations with Syria. Second was that the Syrian track should not overshadow the Palestinian one. Third was talks would be called off immediately if the Israelis attacked Gaza (an option that has been on the table since Hamas took-over the Strip in the summer of 2007).

It was only logical for the Syrians to suspend talks accordingly when the Israeli onslaught began in late December. This week, President Bashar Al Assad gave an interview to Der Spiegel, saying, "There are no more talks, not with this Israeli government. We never had high hopes to start out with, because it was a weak government!"

Syria cannot return to the negotiating table for bilateral talks, after what happened in Gaza. That is a fact. The only chances for resuming Syrian-Israeli talks would be for an international conference to be held to discuss the Middle East peace process, similar to the one that took place in Annapolis, only with a more serious US Administration.

Logically speaking, if President Barack Obama is interested in regional peace, as he has so often said, then he would call for an international conference himself, and push through on the Syrian-Israeli track. Since Syria and Qatar announced that the Abdullah Initiative, agreed upon at the Beirut Summit of 2002, was now dead, a new formula would have to be reached, by consensus in the Arab League that is acceptable to the Syrians.

When confronted with the old saying, "no war without Egypt, no peace without Syria" the Syrian leader said that more than ever, that argument still stands.

Incoming US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a positive message to the Syrians last week, saying that the Obama team was willing to move swiftly to engage Syria.

Earlier in December, former US President Jimmy Carter had come to Damascus, and said that the new US administration was seriously willing to engage in any peace talks, regarding the Golan Heights. That was music to the ears of the Syrians, since under the Bush White House, nobody believed Syria's sincerity over peace talks. The Bush team wrongly believed that the Syrians were more interested in returning to Lebanon, than in restoring the Golan. That was untrue and unfair to Syria.

According to a wide array of incoming US officials, however, the US is now willing to commence on political dialogue with Damascus.

What is required today is a series of confidence building measures - and symbolic gestures between Damascus and Washington DC. Obama gave the process its head start during the presidential campaign by saying that he wants to talk with Damascus.

Several advisers to the incoming president have since visited the Syrian capital. One gesture - which is by now almost certain - would be sending a US ambassador to Damascus, to fill a post that has been vacant since 2005. That would be well received by Syria. During his meetings in Damascus, Carter said that this was going to happen - soon. Syria would reciprocate, he added, by opening the American school and the American culture centre.

Progress would logically end there, however, until Middle East peace gets high on the US agenda, and the Golan Heights are returned to their rightful owners. In this respect, Syria has a major role to play in bringing about regional peace.

In his same interview with the German publication, Al Assad said that Syria is willing to cooperate with the upcoming US administration to achieve regional peace, which means both the Syrian-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian tracks. He had hopes from Obama, rather than expectations: "The new US government must get seriously involved in the peace process. We must help, together with the Europeans."

Egypt, however, is currently trying to take credit for the ceasefire in Gaza, while noticeably; Hamas announced its acceptance of the ceasefire, neither from Gaza, nor from Cairo, but from Damascus.

Just like the leaders of Fatah who sought legitimacy as statesmen, rather than only guerilla warriors, as of 1993, the leadership of Hamas now seeks similar recognition. Now, after the war on Gaza, Hamas aims at reaching an agreement with all parties (Europe included), through Syrian, Turkish, and Qatari mediation, to lift the siege and open the Rafah Crossing. That would be a de facto recognition of Hamas, similar to how Israel and the United States recognised Hezbollah through the April Understanding of 2006.

Al Assad added to this argument saying: "Whether you consider it a resistance group or terrorist organisation, and whether you like Hamas or not, it is a political power that cannot be ignored."

By talking to Syria, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for example, is also, talking to Hamas. The same applies to other European leaders.

When asked if Europeans were unwilling to directly engage with Hamas, Al Assad added, "That is not true-at all! During the last period in particular, several European officials tried to talk with Hamas.

The Europeans learned, and they speak to the leadership of Hamas here in Damascus - not in public, of course. I don't want to mention names, but I find it noteworthy that among them are those who condemn Hamas in their speech. We are trying to help wherever we can!"

Sami Moubayad is Editor-in-Chief of the Forward Magazine in Syria.