Dec. 15, 1999
For Immediate Release
Media Related Inquiries Contact:
Marlon Villa
Via fax (415) 422-2697
[email protected]
University of San Francisco Politics Professor Stephen Zunes
Available for Expert Commentary Regarding Israeli-Syrian Peace Talks
SAN FRANCISCO "ยข Stephen Zunes, associate professor of politics and chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program at the University of San Francisco, has done extensive research on the Israeli-Syrian conflict. He has met with both the Syrian and Israeli foreign ministers, visited both sides of the cease fire line, interviewed settlers, refugees, members of the Druze community and Stephen Zunes, associate professor of politics and chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program at the University of San Francisco, has done extensive research on the Israeli-Syrian conflict. He has met with both the Syrian and Israeli foreign ministers, visited both sides of the cease fire line, interviewed settlers, refugees, members of the Druze community and His articles on the conflict have appeared in INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, MIDDLE EAST POLICY and in the op-ed pages in scores of newspapers.
Zunes notes the irony that Syria -- despite the repressive nature of the regime and its historic hostility towards Israel -- now actually takes a more more moderate position into the peace talks than do the Israelis, and one which is more consistent with UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, long seen as the basis of negotiations.
The Clinton Administration, however, appears to be moving the goalposts by insisting that Syria go beyond providing security guarantees as called upon by the United Nations to establishing full diplomatic and economic relations with Israel prior to an Israeli withdrawal. While Zunes acknowledges that Israel's desire for full normal relations is certainly understable, he argues that it should not be a pre-condition for Israel living up to its international obligations of withdrawing from the conquered Golan Heights, since Syria has already committed to the required security guarantees.
Zunes also observes how Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan acknowledged in his 1967 diaries that there was no stratetic rationale for seizing the territories; so do a number of other contemporary Israeli strategic analysts. In this era of medium-range missiles, controlling the high ground simply doesn't matter that much. Israel would be far more secure by making peace with Syria, which would also lead to peace with Lebanon, than by holding on to the territory.
Zunes may be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (415) 422-6981. His home phone is (831) 425-2975.
-END-
RSS