Alexander suggests in an opinion piece publish in Monday's edition of the Middle East Times titled "Assad to Jerusalem: Dream or Reality?" that if Syrian President Bashar Assad is truly committed to peace between his country and Israel, he would follow in the footsteps of Egypt's late president, Anwar Sadat, by going to Israel and addressing the Knesset. In his speech to the Israeli assembly Assad would offer to bury the hatchet in return for the restitution of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the June 1967 war. And in the process perhaps Assad would become the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of extraordinary efforts in advancing the cause of peace in the Middle East.
Assad the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace? Hard to imagine. As is equally hard to imagine Assad taking the road to Jerusalem. In both instances it would be a hard pill to swallow.
It would be a hard pill to swallow for the Syrians, whom for decades were raised with the notion that Israel was a terrible enemy with whom there can be no peace. It would be equally hard for the Lebanese, who suspect the regime in Damascus of being responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and a slew of politicians, journalists and opponents to Syrian meddling in Lebanon. And it would be equally hard on all opposition groups based in the Syrian capital, which in all probability would have to cease and desist under any potential agreement reached between Damascus and Jerusalem.
It would also be hard on Israeli settlers on the Golan who would have to be evacuated, as any peace deal between Israel and Syria which does include the return of the occupied heights to Syria would never fly.
However, Professor Alexander does not make these suggestions out of the blue. His observations, that Syria is ready for peace, rests on the basis of discussions he held during his visit to Damascus and during which time he met with numerous officials, including Vice President Najah Attar, Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal, and Speaker of the People's Assembly Mahmoud al-Abrash, as well as top religious leaders, among them the Mufti of Damascus, Abdul-Fattah al-Bizem.
But after six decades of hostility between Syria and Israel, after six decades of Syria's rulers constantly pounding the concept of Israel as the enemy and the cause of all of the Middle East's trials and tribulations, how to overnight wipe the slate clean, indeed?
The short answer is that in politics nothing is impossible. And in a country where the government controls the media it would not be terribly difficult to do. The incentives for peace should be obvious. Comparing the state of affairs of the 22 members of the Arab League, Syria and the Palestinian territories probably rank as the worse off along with Somalia, equally plagued by a never-ending war. And when compared to the leaps and bounds achieved by the former communist countries of Eastern Europe, Syria and the Palestinian territories simply trails way behind in the dust.
The continued state of belligerency has kept those countries isolated and economically deprived. So perhaps it is not far-fetched to expect the unexpected from Assad. Unthinkable? Remember the dictum that in politics "there are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests."
And as objectionable as some might find the idea of Assad receiving the Nobel Prize, if they are serious in the pursuit of peace and prosperity they will learn to move on. Not necessarily forgive, and certainly not forget. But in their national interest, learn to accept the reality that there can be no alternative to peace.