A Way Out for Syria: Give Israel Land for Peace

The Islamist assault on Aleppo, made possible by the weakening of Iran and all its proxy militias in and around Syria, puts Assad’s regime in a dilemma:

1. Either rely on Russia — and risk getting overrun by the Sunni jihadis. Face their terrible revenge.
2. Or, make peace with Israel. Concede the Golan Heights and a security zone to Israel; and separate itself completely from Iran and Hezbollah.

Option 2 is the way out for the regime. It could enable Syria to get Israeli help in beating back the Sunni Islamists, in tandem, ironically with both Russia and America. The new Trump Administration would love this package; it would help it fulfill its own purposes with Russia as well as with the Mideast. It could use its huge influence on the Sunnis in Syria to get their moderates to make a compromise peace with the regime.

Syria would go being from the oddball secular member of the Iranian axis of Shi’a extremism, and return to being a relatively normal Arab country. It would get the benefits of peace with Israel, in return for a patch of land that it should never have had and doesn’t hold now anyway.

In option 1, by contrast, Assad would take his chances on stopping the jihadis, even while resisting Israel and the West as well. And quite possibly lose everything.

The only obstacle to option 2 is that it requires new thinking. It amounts to switching sides. It always seems so much easier to stick with the old policy – never mind that it spells disaster.

It’s Syria’s choice.