Middle East Questions

Syria

How did your country get involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East?
The conflict has led to several wars, beginning in 1948, between the state of Israel and Arab nations and Palestinian refugees. Since 1979 several peace accords have been signed, addressing parts of the conflict. In 1922 the British separated Palestine into two territories: land east of the Jordan River became the Emirate of Transjordan (now Jordan); land to the west, from Lebanon and Syria in the north to Egypt in the south, remained Palestine.

What is the history of your country's involvement in that conflict, from when it entered until now? (This will likely be a long answer...)
Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the League of Nations granted the British and the French "mandates" or temporary colonial administration, over former Ottoman "Vilayets" or provinces south of present day Turkey. The two powers drew arbitrary borders and created three Arab countries -- Iraq, Syria, Lebanon -- that exist to this day. Out of what had been known as "southern Syria," the British created an area it officially called "Palestine" in English.The area to the west of the Jordan became the center of Zionist aspirations for a Jewish homeland or state, and gradually saw a large influx of Jewish immigrants escaping persecution in Europe. Immigration drew immediate and violent opposition from local Arabs. In 1945, at British prompting, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan, and Yemen formed the Arab League to coordinate policy between the Arab states.
Syrian forces met a series of reverses while participating in the Arab invasion of Palestine in 1948.Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Syria became independent again on Sept. 29, 1961, following a revolution. In the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel quickly vanquished the Syrian army. Israeli forces took control of the fortified Golan Heights. Syria joined Egypt in attacking Israel in Oct. 1973 in the fourth Arab-Israeli War. ended up losing more land. In the mid-1970s Syria sent some 20,000 troops to support Muslim Lebanese in their armed conflict with Christian militants supported by Israel during the civil war in Lebanon. In the 1990s, the slowdown in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was echoed in the lack of progress in Israeli-Syrian relations.

Who are your enemies in the Middle East? Why?
Israel because they were the ones they fought with during the middle east conflict.

Who are your friends in the Middle East? Why?
Syria took steps to construct a countervailing alliance by improving relations with Iraq, strengthening ties with Iran, and collaborating more closely with Saudi Arabia. I

What does your country want out of the Arab-Israeli conflict?

What is it prepared to give up to get what it wants?

What will it not give up to get what it wants?