However, Asad had an unusual thought on how to pursue peace negotiations which would be nicer to Syria's demands, by starting military conflicts as he had done in 1973. “ Syria tried to retake the Golan Heights during the 1973 Middle East war. Despite inflicting heavy losses on Israeli forces, the surprise assault was thwarted. Both countries signed an armistice in 1974 and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974.” After Asad lost military supporters such as Egypt, which had worked out their own peace deal with Israel, and the Soviet Union was beginning to collapse, Asad stated he wanted more peaceful negotiations, which would not use force as their means.
Syria dealt a lot with trying to secure a peace with Israel, although it was a bit set in its ways about how peace ought to come about. For Syria, peace between itself and Israel ought to be in accordance with U.N. resolutions 242 and 383, as defined by the Madrid conference. This is highly unlikely, due to Syria's definition of these resolutions so that they receive back the Golan heights first, then begin peace negotiations with Israel.
This is not to say at all that no peace ever came close to happening, however. During the Clinton administration, both Syria and Israel came close to arranging peace. This was due largely to an eager Israeli Prime Minister who wanted to settle the dispute. The peace did not happen however because of the issue of Israeli settlement, misinterpretations, and Syria not wanting to take part in an Oslo-style approach.
It is important to note that when discussing peace between these two nations, outside influence is very prominent. The United States has been involved through many presidencies. One of the best chances of peace with America as mediator was Jimmy Carter's administration, in which Carter had formulated a plan to end Israeli conflicts with not only Syria, but also the Palestinians. This plan was to return the Golan Heights to Syria while transforming the West Bank into an independent nation for Palestine. This plan was not about to succeed, however, because Prime Minister Rabin was not particularly fond of President Carter. He found him inexperienced in Middle Eastern politics, and not able to comprehend the security factors Israel would have to deal with, if this plan was accepted.
There was also fear which prevented Syria and Israel to make peace, and this fear was shared amongst most in the Middle East about the Asad's control, who might want to create a larger Syria with a greater harmonious nature. As seen with the attitudes each country felt about the other, and the Golan Heights, this overlying power of fear which has been expressed by both nations is crucial because it poses an obstacle which must be overcome in order to create peace. The control of the Golan Heights by any nation will naturally evoke this fear among all others, creating new difficulties if peace is ever achieved.
As this argument has demonstrated, because of the attitudes and policy concerning the Golan Heights, every time a peace treaty is in the process of being instituted amongst these two nations, the treaty is never successful. As seen, it causes increased fear and conflict when any side has a chance to control this valuable place. The presence of outside powers such as Jordan, Egypt, and the United States poses even more difficulty for these two countries making peace, because outside interests will always effect the way in which they decide to address the problems of the Golan Heights.
In conclusion, this paper looked at the 1967 war, attitudes expressed by Israelis and Syrians about one another, and the attempts to reconcile differences between the two the Golan Heights proved to be the irreconcilable difference which appears to barrier for peace.
The 1967 war proved to be the defining event for making the Golan Heights the important issue it is, by Israel's choice to attack Syria after a ceasefire had been proposed. Had Israel not taking the heights, it would not be an issue for creating peace today.
The attitudes expressed by both sides concerning the heights are, one, that the Israelis have expressed joy over gaining the land. They have also expressed fear for their security, if the heights were ever to be returned to Syria. Meanwhile Syria feels that the Israelis are becoming a very consuming nation which simply wants to expand.
Peace treaties between the two have been attempted after being negotiated, but either because of missed opportunity on both Syria and Israel's part, U.S. interference, or simple fear of whomever controlled the heights, no one has been able to forge peace.
All of which leads to the fact that no peace between Syria and Israel has occurred because of Israel and Syria's attitudes and policy towards the matter of the Golan Heights.
