Syria Deals With Gaza, Eyeing Own Peace

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Source: AP

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria has responded to Israel's Gaza offensive with harsh words for the Israelis and expressions of firm support for Hamas. But it's unlikely to do much more.

With its nemesis President George W. Bush just days from leaving office, Syria does not want to do anything to deepen its diplomatic isolation from the United States or to anger President-elect Barack Obama. Rather, Obama's election has filled many here with hope for better U.S.-Syrian relations.


"Syria's strategic outlook is based on long-term constants and dynamics more than specific events," said Peter Harling, a Syria specialist with the International Crisis Group. "So far, the Gaza conflict hasn't fundamentally altered the regional equation."

Syria has strongly denounced the Gaza offensive, in which about 760 Palestinians had died by early Friday. President Bashar Assad said Tuesday that Israel's actions there amounted to war crimes. In a largely symbolic move, Syria also suspended its indirect, Turkish-mediated peace negotiations with Israel, though the talks had stopped last year after four inconclusive rounds when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he was stepping down.

By sticking to symbolic gestures and rhetoric — rather than encouraging Hezbollah and Lebanon-based Palestinian groups to attack Israel — Syria may be hoping to encourage an Obama administration to think of it favorably, and perhaps grant its longtime wish for active U.S. involvement in Israeli peace talks.

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