VOL. XXXIX

No. 13/14

25 December 1995/1 January 1996

The Political Scene

The announcement that Syria and Israel are to resume negotiations has been accompanied by expressions of optimism all round which may raise expectations to a dangerous level. The basis for the resumption of the talks is a ten- point set of guidelines which are largely procedural in nature, and on matters of substance (such as security and territory) there are few signs that the two sides have succeeded in narrowing...