WASHINGTON — A steady stream of U.S. lawmakers and officials has visited Syria in recent weeks, signaling a new U.S. openness toward Israel’s northern neighbor.
While some see the new outreach as an important effort to connect with a potential ally in the U.S.-led war on terrorism, others see it as a misguided warming toward a country that harbors terrorists and refuses to compromise on peace with Israel.
Syria remains on the U.S. State Department’s list of states that sponsor terrorism, but some see Syria as having a common interest in going after international terrorism.
During the just-concluded congressional recess, Syria hosted four separate delegations of U.S. lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).
The outreach to Syria comes as President Bashar Assad has finally formed his new government, 18 months after inheriting the reins from his father, Hafez.
It also comes as Syria has taken on a new role in international politics as the newest member of the U.N. Security Council.
Syria appears to be using its new status both as a way to garner American support for its struggling economy — and as a way to speak out against Israel.
Syria’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations outraged Israeli, Jewish and American officials last week when he compared the sight of Palestinian homes destroyed by Israel in the Gaza Strip with the destruction of the World Trade Center bombing.
“We must note the scene of tens of Palestinian houses which were demolished by Israeli tanks in the Rafah camps a few days ago is not much different from the scene of the World Trade Center which was destroyed by the terrorists, whom we have all agreed here to combat and eliminate,”‘ Faisal Mekdad said last Friday.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Yehuda Lancry, in a speech to the council late Friday, said he regretted Syria’s “baseless allegations.”
He called Mekdad’s statement “a transparent attempt to divert attention from Syria’s own record as a country that supports, encourages, finances and harbors a vast gamut of terrorist organizations.”
Nevertheless, many experts in Syria say it is important for U.S. officials to visit the country and meet more regularly with its leadership.
Richard Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the country is still a mystery for many American officials.
“Among all the countries in the former peace process, Syria is the least known, but recognized as a potential player,” Murphy said.
He said it is important for lawmakers to get to know the country, especially if the State Department is correct in stating that Syria’s leadership has shown a willingness to aid the coalition against terrorism.
In addition to pledging its support for the war on terrorism, the Syrian government has been moderating the state-controlled press and restraining Hezbollah in its attacks against the Shabaa Farms region of the Lebanon-Israel border. The area was declared part of Israel in the wake of the withdrawal from Lebanon, though Arab states dispute that claim.
All of these actions are seen as attempts to improve Syria’s image in the U.S. mindset, in the hope of being removed from the State Department’s list, which brings with it economic sanctions.
This image-mending troubles some U.S. Jewish officials, who fear U.S. lawmakers are not taking the country to task for harboring terrorism and for using its United Nations seat to launch verbal attacks against Israel.
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Assad still needs to dismantle the terrorist groups that are headquartered in Damascus, as well as not allow his country to be a transfer point between Iran and Hezbollah for arms and equipment.
Also, he said Syria should pressure the Lebanese Army to fulfill its obligation to pull out from the Israel-Lebanon border, and for Syria to recognize and leave Lebanon.
But, Jewish supporters of such visits argue that visiting a country is not an inherent sign of support for the government or its policies.
M.J. Rosenberg, policy director of the Israel Policy Forum, said the congressional delegations could play positive roles in the Middle East.
“It’s not a question of whether you go to these countries, it’s a question of what you say to them,” Rosenberg said. “It’s helpful if they encourage peace and cooperation in the region.”
The big concern is whether the lawmakers will be taken in by the spin.
There were concerns that one congressional contingent had expressed support for Syria’s work in combating regional terrorism, while not pressing for additional curtailing of activities.
But Sen. Durbin has denied quotes attributed to him saying the world could learn from Syria’s own dealings with domestic terrorism.
Speaking to reporters last week, Durbin called it “predictable” that Assad accused Israelis of terrorism.
“He didn’t want to acknowledge his sponsorship of terrorism around the Middle East, and that came as no surprise,” Durban said.
Wayne Owens, a former Utah congressman who now serves as president of the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, organized Durbin’s trip.
He said despite the State Department’s designation of Syria as a terrorist state, he has been taking trips to the region for years.
“Visitors don’t constitute recognition,” Owens said.