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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrians terrified by prospect of tribunal |
| 2006-11-23 |
| Israel is not overly concerned US-Syrian talks will result in its being asked to give up the Golan Heights in return for Syrian aid to the US in Iraq, diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said Sunday. Baker represents a school of thought that believes the US should engage both Syria and Iran, and that it may be possible to get the Syrians to play a more constructive role both in Iraq and in Lebanon. "Of course it comes at a price, and I'm not sure the Americans are willing to pay the price," one Israeli official said. He said that the price was not the Golan, but rather to get the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese prime Minister Rafiq Hariri called off, and to allow Syrian influence and involvement - although maybe not troops - in Lebanon. "The Syrians are terrified by the prospect of the tribunal," the official said, "and they want it called off. That is their top priority, and as a by-product they want to keep a hold on Lebanon." The Golan was "in no way" the top agenda item for Assad, he said, who was concerned that the tribunal could actually threaten his regime. "Assad's regime is a small Alawite clique, with some Sunni allies," the official explained. "If some of the cornerstones of this very small and tight clique are taken out to be tried, judged and convicted, then the whole building may collapse and this is what Assad is worried about." The official said Assad knew who would be implicated and tried, and that - if not Assad himself - it was people "very, very close to him, the top officials of the regime." According to this school of thought, the Syrians would not put the Golan on the table with the US at this time, other than perhaps extracting a promise that if all went well in their discussion with Washington, there would be assurances that talks with Israel could begin next year. "But this is not their No. 1 priority," the official said. "Their survival is their No. 1 priority." |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |