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Obama Eyes Syria as Path to Mideast Peace

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 30, 2009 5:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama may renew stalled talks between Israel and Syria, both to revive hopes of Mideast peace and isolate Iran, but the approach is laden with pitfalls, Seymour M. Hersh writes in the New Yorker. Some observers doubt Israel will ever move 20,000 settlers out of the Golan Heights—land that Syria demands to have back—and others warn Obama against negotiating with an ally of Iran that arms both Hamas and Hezbollah.

The prospect of driving a wedge between Syria and Iran may prove too enticing for Obama to resist, but Syria's vice president warned of being too hopeful. “Do you think a man only goes to bed with a woman he deeply loves?” he said. “That’s my answer to your question about Iran.” Still, this could be Obama's "best chance for engagement in the Middle East peace process," Hersh writes.


An Israeli military post in the Golan Heights.
An Israeli military post in the Golan Heights.   (AP Photo)
A Syrian man waves his country’s flag at Ein al-Teineh, southern Damascus, Syria, Saturday Feb. 14, 2009, opposite to the occupied village of Majdal Shams.
A Syrian man waves his country’s flag at Ein al-Teineh, southern Damascus, Syria, Saturday Feb. 14, 2009, opposite to the occupied village of Majdal Shams.   (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi)
A Syrian man seen, at Ein al-Teineh, Damascus, Syria, Saturday Feb. 14, 2009.
A Syrian man seen, at Ein al-Teineh, Damascus, Syria, Saturday Feb. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi)
Israel's Prime Minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during an economic conference in Jerusalem, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
Israel's Prime Minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during an economic conference in Jerusalem, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Women walk under a picture of President Bashar Assad in Syria.
Women walk under a picture of President Bashar Assad in Syria.   (AP Photo)
Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Syrian President Bashar Assad.   (AP Photo)
Syrians gather at Ein al-Teineh, southern Damascus, opposite the occupied village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, to protest the anniversary of the Israeli annexation of the Heights.
Syrians gather at Ein al-Teineh, southern Damascus, opposite the occupied village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, to protest the anniversary of the Israeli annexation of the Heights.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Observer
Mar 30, 2009 10:22 AM CDT
Let's leave Israel out of the conversation. Why shouldn't Syria fund Hamas and Hezbollah? Those boys know how to party! No one's right when everybody's wrong.

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