Does the Hero Die?!
Jameel Theyabi Al-Hayat - 26/05/08//
For decades, Syria played to the tune of Arab nationalism, casting itself as the state of resistance and defiance. Some even raved that it was the Arab country that cemented Arab solidarity and resisted Israel.
In their eyes, it fought the invader and brandished the slogan of a single Arab nation. Even more, it hosts the Palestinian leaders of Hamas, supports the Lebanese Hezbollah, and "strategically" allies itself with Iran against the US hegemony. Yet, some countries discovered Syria's game from the start and unveiled its "desperate" attempts to cast itself as a resistant at times and a "conspirator" against Arab causes at others, whether by insinuating or leaking - to "suspicious" media and websites - "fallacious" information harmful to the stances of Arab countries.
Interestingly though, Damascus has recently reconsidered its stances and policies, as the enemy proved capable of disclosing its intentions and moves, particularly amidst mounting international pressure and following Israel's air raid on a "nuclear facility" in Deir al Zour, as claimed Tel Aviv. At that time, Syria reserved the right to retaliate in due course, a retaliation that proved later "disappointing" to its partisans when Syrian Israeli negotiations were said to be conducted with Turkish mediation.
In light of the numerous accusations the Syrian regime may have faced - starting with the assassination of Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyyeh in Damascus and the involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri - Syria found itself embroiled in an untenable confrontation, hence the looming solution: launch peace talks through secret negotiations. Syria bode no good for Lebanon. And instead of serving as an "authentic" Arab key to the settlement of the "critical" problems that gripped the countries of the region, it intensified them even further. In this respect, Syria had no active contribution to the Doha reconciliation agreement. For at the height of the Hezbollah coup against its country and people, it described the matter as a "domestic Lebanese issue." It also refused to attend the Arab League meeting that was convened by Saudi Arabia and Egypt and that resulted in an Arab ministerial committee tasked with defusing the crisis and sparing an Arab country a looming civil war.
According to the Israeli newspaper, Yediot Achranot, the September 2007 bombing of the Syrian nuclear reactor triggered secret contacts between Damascus and Tel Aviv. As such, the joint declaration was not made "all of a sudden" but rather culminated long months of mutual preparations and exchange of messages.
During the past four years, Syria's stances were not unanimously endorsed by the Arabs. Syria has largely contributed to Iran's interference in Arab countries, particularly in Iraq and Lebanon, with a total disregard for its Arab identity and for the diplomacy that would safeguard its interests as well as those of its neighbors and other Arabs.
The Arabs tried to push Syria away from the passionate endorsement of Iran's expansionist plans in the region. There were numerous Arab attempts - either through secret or public visits - to bring Syria back to the Arab fold, restore its "important" role, and spare the region looming wars and their consuming fires. However, Syria brushed away all such attempts.
With no doubt, the Syrian policy suffers from problems and pressures. But its fragility is exacerbated by its dual decisions and persistence to play it smart. For this reason, efforts need to be exerted to bring Syria back to the Arab fold and fill the potential gaps that may be left by the bill of peace.
Israel may not be serious in the ongoing peace negotiations. The latter may be nothing but an attempt to gain time and deflect attention away from the scandals of the Israeli government. Israel has not gained yet Arab trust, especially that it has rejected the Arab peace initiative and still disregards all just solutions to the Palestinian cause.
If the peace negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv are truly serious with a US blessing, then I am afraid that their greatest victim would be the international tribunal in charge of investigating the assassination of Hariri and his companions. Even if this tribunal were to be established, even it started functioning, I am afraid it would be tantamount to an international "play" whose hero died in the first scene.
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