Syria Interested in "Process" not Peace, Netanyahu does the peace jig

In an article that really lacks any deeper the analysis, the Times reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports peace talks with Syria without preconditions. The Times doesn’t really explore whether Syria will respond in kind or has any serious commitment to peace, instead choosing to focus exclusively on Israeli actions, as if Syria doesn’t exist.

Of importance though, reporter Isabel Kershner quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, who properly observes that Syrian leader “Assad is only interested in the peace process in order to get his country out of its international isolation and to remove the pressure of the international community.” This is a key point which many analysts fail to note (including the Times): Syria is interested in the “process,” not peace.

Time and again, Syria has shown that it is not prepared to make the necessary sacrifices for peace, feigning interest in a peace process so that it can reap dividends from the international community. For the Syrian regime, it is more worthwhile for Israel to be its eternal enemy and scapegoat on which to blame national and regional ills, rather than recoup the Golan Heights.

Despite Syria's clear lack of sincere attentions, Netanyahu understands he must do the tired old peace jig in order to mollify those voices that believe Israeli intransigence is the barrier to an agreement.