MidnightCall Magazine
News From Israel MagazineMiddleman Between Syria and Israel
One of the issues Turkey is trying to work out between Israel and Syria as a prelude to direct negotiations is whether a Syrian announcement of ending support for terrorism needs to precede an Israeli guarantee that it will withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for peace, Western diplomats said.
According to the officials, one question being discussed in exchanges Turkey has carried between Jerusalem and Damascus over the last few months is what comes first, an Israeli announcement—in some yet to be determined form—regarding withdrawal from the Golan, or a Syrian announcement of ending support for Hamas and Hizbullah.
Israel is also keen on a Syrian commitment to distance itself from Iran as part of any future peace agreement.
Both sides were willing to hold discussions, the official said, but there was no agreement yet on the modalities.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, meanwhile, said that a great deal remained to be achieved before any peace agreement between Israel and Syria, but that his country would continue to act as a go-between to encourage them to restart direct negotiations.
Ali Babacan said an agreement would require “strong political determination” from both sides.
“We are still at the very beginning of the process,” Babacan told reporters during a news conference with New Zealand’s foreign minister in Ankara. His comments were in response to a question on Turkey’s mediation efforts. Babacan said Turkey would pass messages between the sides until they were ready to meet.
“Talks will continue to take place through Turkey for a while,” When the issue is a little more mature, then I hope that the sides will meet each other.”
-The Jerusalem Post, 29 April 2008, pg. 2
Turkey has developed into a valuable connection between Israel and Syria. Nevertheless, presently Israel is still reeling from the disappointment of evacuating some 8,000 Israelis from Gaza. Most agree that the situation between Israel and Gaza is now worse than it was when Israelis lived there. However, in the end, we believe that Israel will compromise and surrender territory to the Arabs. We again must recall that this is not just Israel, Syria and Turkey, but the entire world. All nations agree that Israel should withdraw from the Golan Heights and simply give it to Syria in the hopes of some type of peace. Note again what Joel 3:2 says: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
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