Assad Reign Of The Syrian-israeli Relations Analysis

During the era of Hafiz al-Asad (1970-2000), the relations between Syria and Israel experienced three periods. They were the comprehensive confrontation, strategic parity and peace negotiation.When Asad ruled Syria, he gradually established Syrian political and diplomatic positions as an important country in the Middle East. Thus, Syria had played a great role in Arab-Israel conflicts. Aimed at maintaining political stability and developing national economics, plus taking into account the state's interests, Asad had made flexible and practical tactics towards Israel. In the late 1970s, because Egypt made a separate peace with Israel, Syria took the tactic of strategic parity, tried to gain society's supports, and continued to hold high anti-Israel banner. In the 1990s, the Middle East peace process initiated, Syria held peace talks with Israel. Because of a series of problems like Golan Heights, the negotiation achieved little.It is very difficult for Syria and Israel to have the normalization of state relations because of the following reasons. When it comes to the international politics, the contending for hegemony between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and the leading position of America in the Middle East peace process after the Cold War have made the confrontations between Syria and Israel embody the competitions and antagonisms between superpowers. The stalemate of "no war, no peace" between Syria and Israel has intensively connected with this. As for the area politics, when Syria makes her foreign policies, Egypt's making peace with Israel separately, Lebanon problem and Palestinian problem must be taken into consideration. At the same time, these factors have restricted Syria-Israel relation greatly. In addition, the domestic politics of these two countries have had significant effects on their relations, because one country's foreign policies are determined by its domestic politics. Asad was the decision-maker of Syria domestic and foreign affairs. His tactics towards Israel had centered on his own state's interests, while the important country's position of Syria and Palestinian problem also have to be weighed in making foreign policies. Israel's foreign policies have been inconsistent because of the different proportions between the Labor and the Likud.The Golan Heights problem has been the central issue that restricted Syria-Israel relations. It had belonged to Syria, and in the Six Day War of 1967 most of it was occupied by Israel. Because of its strategical position and possessing rich water resources, it has been the focus of confrontation between Syria and Israel.