Syria should pursue reconciliation with Israel for Golan Heights, says analysis

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has an opportunity to achieve reconciliation with Israel and reclaim the occupied Golan Heights, according to an analysis in the Arab Times. The piece suggests that pursuing peace negotiations is the most pragmatic path forward, contrasting it with past Syrian policies that it argues were detrimental.

The article criticizes the approach of the late President Hafez Al-Assad, recalling his defiant stance and focus on slogans rather than tangible diplomatic gains. It points to the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference as a missed opportunity, where Syria, despite being in a position to negotiate the Golan's return, allegedly became entangled in rhetoric. The author contends that Syria's adherence to slogans and rejection of peace processes, including its formation of the Steadfastness and Confrontation Front against Egypt's Camp David Accords, led to significant losses and economic isolation.

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The Middle East is a land of missed opportunities.

In contrast, the article praises the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's astuteness in recognizing Israel's existence as a reality and leveraging peace treaties to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories. Sadat's approach, it argues, brought peace and stability to Egypt while preventing the exploitation of the Palestinian cause.

The author asserts that the current international climate and historical precedents, such as the Camp David Accords and the Jordanian-Israeli Wadi Araba Agreement, demonstrate that the international community will not permit Israel's defeat. Therefore, Syria must prioritize negotiations to recover its occupied land, cut ties with factions that exploit the Palestinian cause, and adapt to the constantly changing political and military landscape to preserve its national stability and sovereignty.

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I used to swim in the Sea of Galilee and I will swim in it again.