ABSTRACT
Until October 1991 there were no direct peace negotiations between Israel and Syria. The issue had been moribund since the two states signed an armistice agreement in July 1949 in the aftermath of Israel's War of Independence. In 1949 the Syrian dictator, Hosni al-Zaim, offered to meet with Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and to discuss a peace treaty and a military alliance between the two countries. Syria would absorb 250,000 to 300,000 Palestinian refugees, while Israel, for its part, would cede half of Lake Tiberias to Syria. The rise or decline of Islamic fundamentalism in the Arab world, and the growing strength and influence of Iran, are also factors of potential influence. With regard to a territorial settlement, Syria demands a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights while Israel may be ready to make certain concessions, but will insist on long-term security arrangements to ensure its safety and the protection of its water sources.
