ABSTRACT

Israel had previously concluded armistice accords with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon; Syria was the last Arab state that entered into negotiations on this issue. The UN was directly involved in the negotiations from the outset, its representative serving as an active mediator. Although fear of the war's renewal contributed heavily in convincing the Arabs to agree to an armistice, it is very doubtful whether agreement would have been reached without UN mediation. Syria and the United States were engaged in secret negotiations to improve their relations. The singular aspect of the negotiations was that they were unofficial, were conducted by high-ranking personalities, and third-party involvement was minimal. Syria wanted to set in motion a process that would bring about Israel's withdrawal from the Golan Heights, whereas Israel viewed the negotiations as an instrument to secure quiet and to strengthen its hold on the Golan Heights.