Clinton and Assad Meet in Geneva Amid Middle East Peace Talks

Strategic Insights -

US President Bill Clinton and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad met in Geneva on Sunday, marking the first time the two leaders have met in person. The summit aimed to give impetus to Middle East peace talks resuming in Washington next week. Despite expectations, US officials say they do not anticipate breakthroughs from the meeting. The talks come amidst tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, with many Palestinians fearing that a potential peace deal between Syria and Israel could leave them behind.

Key Takeaways:

  • The meeting between Clinton and Assad was the first time the two leaders have met in person, with the summit taking place in a Geneva hotel.
  • US officials do not expect breakthroughs from the meeting, with a State Department spokesman stating that the most the summit could do is push Syrian-Israeli talks in the right direction.
  • Hundreds of Israeli settlers clashed with police in Qazrin, on the Golan Heights, in protest of the meeting, fearing that a peace deal could lead to the return of the strategic Heights.
  • Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territories are wary of being left out of any potential peace deal, with many fearing that Syria's pursuit of peace with Israel could lead to increased pressure on the Palestinians.
  • Assad views the meeting as a symbolic recognition of Syria's importance in US Middle East peace policy, and a chance to negotiate as an equal.
  • The US agreed to the summit in December, following Assad's commitment to not boycott the next round of Washington talks.
  • A Syrian delegation is expected to attend the Washington talks on January 24, marking the first talks with Israelis in four months.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin predicted that Assad may express a "somewhat more flexible" vision of peace, but no dramatic breakthroughs are expected.

Statistics:

  • The summit took place in a Geneva hotel.
  • The meeting began at 10am and was expected to last three hours.
  • Approximately 15,000 Israelis live on the Golan Heights.
  • Hundreds of Israeli settlers clashed with police in Qazrin.
  • A Syrian delegation is expected to attend the Washington talks on January 24.

Sources:

  • _Newsday_
  • _Independent_
  • _Reuter_