US ENVOY George Mitchell is due in Damascus today to brief Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on the renewal of direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Mr Mitchell is also expected to assure president Assad that the US is committed to the resumption of indirect talks between Syria and Israel with the aim of achieving a peace treaty between these two countries. As its price for a deal, Damascus demands the return of the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel in 1967.
President Assad has repeatedly called for the resumption of Turkish-brokered talks between Syria and Israel, broken off in 2008.
On Monday, during a meeting with French presidential envoy Jean Claude Cousseran, the Syrian leader stressed the importance of Turkey’s role and said it was necessary to “build on what was achieved in previous indirect negotiations”.
France has stated an interest in joining Turkey in the effort to mediate a deal between Syria and Israel.
Damascus is in a position to either help or hinder Palestinian- Israeli talks. Ten dissident Palestinian factions – including Hamas and Islamic Jihad – have headquarters in Damascus. Last spring, under Syrian pressure, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishaal softened his line toward Israel and expressed willingness to reconcile with Fatah.
But Washington continued to ostracise Hamas and pressed Fatah to reject reconciliation with it.
As soon as the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah agreed to resume negotiations, the Hamas leaderships in Damascus and Gaza rejected these talks. Hamas fighters resumed attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and again started firing rockets at Israel from Gaza.
The other nine Damascus-based Palestinian factions condemned the talks and joined the Hamas call for the renewal of attacks against Israel.
Since most of these factions are members of the Fatah-run Palestine Liberation Organisation, this put pressure on Fatah members to state their opposition to direct talks, weakening president Mahmud Abbas and his negotiating team.
