Traveling a Stormy Sea

It’s too soon to know whether the abrupt suspension in high-level talks between Syria and Israel represents a procedural bump in the negotiating road or a more serious setback. U.S. officials sponsoring the peace talks between the longtime enemies are trying to put the best face possible on developments, noting that problems should be expected when complex issues of territory, security and normalization of relations are on the table.

True, but the sharp disagreement on priorities that emerged so early in the process and led to the cancellation of today’s scheduled meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shareh underscores the tenuous aspects of the peace effort. Syria insists that, as a first order of business, Israel agree to withdraw from the entire Golan Heights, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel wants questions of security, water rights and open borders resolved before the territorial issue is addressed. Washington will now do what it can to finesse these differences.

Matters weren’t helped when the Israeli government last week leaked a U.S.-drafted document summarizing the positions of the two sides to date. The document showed Syria has made some major concessions as part of its peace offer. Among them: allowing an early-warning monitoring station atop the Golan’s Mt. Hermon and a readiness to open full diplomatic relations and trade and tourism with Israel. The leak embarrassed Syria, opening it to domestic accusations that it had given up much in exchange for very little. Both sides had promised Washington that its summary of positions would be held in confidence. The Israeli leak was an affront to the United States as well as Syria.

Hard bargaining accompanied by mutual accusations of bad faith is a given in Arab-Israeli negotiations, with both sides figuring they can count on the United States to soothe hurt feelings and patch over differences. But a mediator isn’t a miracle worker. The precondition to achieving progress is a readiness, and the political courage, to compromise. Only when both sides send that signal can the talks resume at the appropriate high level.