FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 18, 2008
CONTACT: Ori Nir - (202) 728-1893
Washington, D.C - Americans for Peace Now today urged the presidential candidates to embrace diplomatic engagement with Syria and to voice their support for Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations.
The message was sent to the campaigns as the second installment in APN's new "Responsibility over Rhetoric" initiative, aimed at the Obama and McCain campaigns. APN's initiative offers responsible and constructive ways for the presidential candidates to talk about issues relating to Israel and Middle East peace.
Following is the full text of APN's issue-brief on Israeli-Syrian peace efforts, sent today to the campaigns:
The summer 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war put Syria back on the agenda for Israel and the U.S., leading many in Israel to argue in favor of re-engaging with Damascus. This view reflected a belated realization that the long-simmering Israel-Syria conflict has implications both on Syrian support for Hezbollah and on Syrian relations with Iran.
Indeed, an Israeli-Syria peace agreement has the potential to greatly improve Israeli security and further American interests. It would at long last bring to an end the tensions and the state of war that exist on that border. It would likely pave the way for an Israel-Lebanon agreement that would weaken Hezbollah and contribute to security and stability across Israel's northern border. Israeli-Syrian peace could also revitalize the Israeli-Palestinian peace track and be leveraged toward comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world. Finally, an Israeli deal with Syria is almost certain to drive a wedge between Damascus and Teheran, weakening Iran's influence in the region and making it easier for the U.S. and its allies worldwide to deal with the challenges emanating from Iran. It should be recalled that the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, recommended that in order to advance vital U.S. interests in the region, the U.S. ought to engage Syria and promote Israel-Syria negotiations.
Significant progress in negotiating an end to the Israel-Syria conflict was achieved under Prime Minister Ehud Barak, demonstrating that there is a real chance for an agreement, if there is the political will to pursue one. Circumstances have long been ripe for resuming these negotiations. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has impeded such efforts. Despite growing consensus among Israeli security officials that such talks can succeed and are consistent with Israel's own best interests, the Bush Administration has pressured Israel to adhere to its own approach of replacing diplomacy with a dogmatic refusal to engage with adversaries, and wrongly equating engagement with appeasement.
Recently, despite U.S. opposition, Israel entered into talks with Syria, under the auspices of Turkey. It is regrettable that the Bush Administration failed to take the lead in brokering these peace talks. Israel clearly did the right thing in pursuing its strategic interests by opening negotiations, even without the participation of the U.S. This promising diplomatic track remains open today. However, both Israel and Syria recognize that substantial progress toward peace awaits a new U.S. Administration that will embrace this initiative.
American support for Israel-Syria peace is vital, just as U.S. engagement has been vital to the achievement of other Israeli-Arab peace agreements. While there are, undoubtedly, legitimate concerns about the nature and the actions of the Assad regime, Syria is a key player with respect to stability in the region and Israeli security; U.S. engagement can help determine whether the role Syria plays in the future will be positive or not. Candidates for president should support such engagement. The next Administration, regardless of party, should act quickly to resume America's traditional leadership role in shepherding Mideast peace.
APN urges the Presidential campaigns to:
- Embrace a smart approach to U.S.-Syria relations that is founded on engagement and diplomacy, rather than one that relies solely on threats, sanctions, and ultimatums;
- Enunciate clear support for the Israel-Syria peace track, recognizing that Israel-Syria peace will promote both Israeli and U.S. vital interests; and,
- Reject any efforts to place preconditions on negotiations, pre-empt U.S. options for supporting negotiations, or block U.S. support for an agreement that such negotiations may produce.
APN is a non-partisan American Jewish, Zionist organization dedicated to peace and security for Israel and to
supporting the Israeli Peace Now movement. For more on APN's "Responsibility over Rhetoric" initiative, please
visit: www.peacenow.org