McClatchy reports:
After eight years of stalemate and periodic tension, Israel and Syria announced Wednesday that they have launched "serious and continuous" indirect peace talks aimed at ending one of the region's longest-running disputes.
In identical statements issued from Damascus and Jerusalem, the rival neighbors said that they are taking part in indirect negotiations with Turkish diplomats serving as mediators....
If successful, the talks could lead to a broader shift in regional dynamics by returning the Golan Heights to Syria, cutting off critical support for Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, and diminishing the influence of Iran in the region.
If the Israelis were satisfied that Syria would stop aiding Hezbollah, and stay out of Lebanon, then perhaps this kind of deal could go a long way towards assuring the security of Israel. I don't know how they can be at all confident of Syria holding up their end of the deal, but they can do the math on that themselves. On the other hand, the Golan is a magnificent piece of land. If I were an Israeli, I'd be hard pressed to give it away. I'd get rid of the West Bank in a heartbeat, as I think most Israelis would if they thought the result wouldn't mirror the situation in Gaza. But after spending just a day driving around the Golan, I felt an odd attachment to it. Then again I'm not an Israeli, so I don't really get a say in the matter.
