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Heard on the Street

Israeli-Syria Peace Could Transform Region

posted on 03/24/08

Alon Liel, former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, interview with Asharq Alawsat, March 18, 2008:

“It is clear that the Americans are debating many aspects of Syrian policy, but we are also debating these aspects with them. … Israeli-Syrian peace, in itself, would impose new rules in the region. If Syria signed a peace agreement with Israel, it would be illogical for it to ally itself with those who say day and night that they want to destroy Israel, like Iran, Hezbollah, or Hamas. It would be illogical for Syria to supply these organizations with weapons. Syria is an independent state that has interests. There is no ideological link between it and Iran. Therefore, things will change in the region when peace is achieved. This would be in the interest of the West, the interest of all the peoples of the region, and most importantly, the interest of the Israeli and Syrian peoples.”