I could not read the interview that David suggested because that website is blocked by Syrian filters. So I can not speak to the interview directly. But I do agree, tribalism is ingrained in the psyche, not just in Israel-- it is universal, existing beyond the Middle East and it most likely will not go away for a very long time. It is the nature of our humanity.

Arabs do not trust the Israelis. Israelis do not trust the Arabs. This fact has long been a given in this formula called Middle East peace. But there is a greater problem at hand, at least in the Arab world: Arabs do not trust themselves. This lack of inter-Arab trust and unity has caused a total breakdown in any sort of peace process or prospect for negotiations with the Israelis. It has prevented Arabs from joining the global community and being an effective diplomatic bloc in international affairs.

Palestinians continue to bicker and fight among themselves. There are skirmishes between varying camps but they continue to appeal for so-called National Unity. In Lebanon, Christians, Sunni Muslims and Shia Arabs are in conflict. Within the Christian community in the country, there is no agreement and no trust. Just last week, two armed men shot a driver of car in the the neck. They pulled him out of his car and dumped him in the trunk of their own car, speeding off to a destination unknown. In Syria, where I am now, people have no trust in anyone, not the taxi driver, not the store owner, not even ordinary people on the street. I recently heard about a Syrian blogger, who was arrested and has disappeared. His whereabouts unknown. Let's hope my blogging does not lead to such fate. These may be small, singular incidents, but they symbolize a larger, more complicated dilemma.

How can Arabs expect to make peace with their so-called enemies, when they have not yet made peace with themselves, their tribes and their governments?

Well, I have arrived to Syria safely. Thank God. Spent some time in Dubai, where the weather is suffocatingly hot and humid but the ornate malls serve as a cool refuge with full-blown aquariums and ice skating rinks!

I am currently in Lebanon. Yesterday I ate fresh fish at a delicious restaurant in the small town of Amsheet called Mhanna. The restaurant is perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Local Lebanese tell me that the fish in the area has gone bad due to pollution and Israel's bombing during the recent Israel-Lebanon war. The restaurant was packed and the food was delicious.

Syria is a funny place. There is so much change taking place here and yet things don't change at all, including opinions. Unfortunately, there is little optimism in this country about coexistence. Golan is still under Israeli occupation, and until an agreement is reached on that, my guess is that hope will remain low.

Also, there have been two confirmed cases of swine flu in the country. I think many are preparing for the worst here. But hospitals are understaffed and overworked. Go to hospital here and you will see lines of people waiting to be seen.

Souheila: I hope you landed in the arms of your family.

I really do not know Syria as a civilian -- I observed it through the crosshairs of the Israeli army. During my service in the seventies, I had to count traffic of the Syrian army, but this is the past as far as I am concerned.

So from my perspective, you landed on the other side of the moon. What do your relatives and friends tell you? Is coexistence possible? And what windows are there for the Syrians to dialogue with Israelis, as people? Not as representatives of governments, but face to face with citizens who have different points of view.

Once in the nineties, I produced a dialogue between a Syrian member of parliament and an Israeli minister -- live on TV.

A lot has changed since than. As a thaw might be possible between the USA and Syria, maybe another thaw is possible?

I am not optimistic about all this.

Well, it has been a week since Obama gave his historical speech to the Muslim world in the Mother of the World (Um Al Dunya) in Egypt. Now that the sand has settled and reactions have tempered, it is fair to say that although there was alot of optimism and hype surrounding his landmark speech, not much is going to change. While Muslims can appreciate President Obama for recognizing Islamic achievement throughout history and the need to re-engage based on mutual respect, it will be his actions that will ultimately be judged--particularly concerning the Arab-Israeli/Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

Israel is continuing its settlements and its policy of displacement. On today's Mosaic, Syria TV reports that a Palestinian man was forced to demolish his home with his own hands so that he would be spared the cost of having to pay for an Israeli bulldozer to do it. Israeli settlers are erecting Obama huts to protest President Obama's calling for a two-state solution and a halt to settlement building. Meanwhile, the Palestinians continue to bicker among themselves over who has the right to represent a people who are becoming more impoverished and more hopeless with every passing day. Arab leaders continue to prove their ineffectiveness as they watch from the sidelines waiting for their cue from Washington, or better yet, Tel Aviv.

Well so much for big talk and small action!

Although Syria boasts that it has always wanted a comprehensive peace with Israel that includes the Palestinians, I think that Damascus is more than willing to go the route that Jordan and Egypt took, which means that the Palestinians will again be left out of the peace loop. I do think that it takes right-wing Israeli  governments to make peace with the Arabs, which unfortunately comes at the cost of Palestinian lives and misery.

Do you think that Obama will be able to broker a peace between Netanyahu and Assad? Where do you think Netanyahu will take Israel?

I interviewed the Syrian ambassador to the US a couple years ago for an article. He expressed his country’s great desire to have talks with the U.S. and make peace with Israel. So I think that the desire is there and has always been there. Official public statements also indicate this. But of course, the Syrian posiiton has always been clear on the Golan Heights, Damascus wants it all back. The two countries were close to making a deal not too long ago. But the environment was ripe. Today, the Israeli leadership has changed so dramatically that I wonder ifIsrael is ready for peace?

Great article, that gives a hint that this triangle-USA-Israel-Syria might work. Although as you say the new regime in Israel is an unknown quantity.  But Israeli Establishment always thought it is easier to talk to other Arab countries than with the Palestinians. Because land is easier to deal with than rights, especially Jerusalem and refugee issues.

Will Syria look at the fate of the Palestinians and refuse to make an agreement with a right- wing Israeli regime? Do you feel as a Syrian American that Palestine is the issue that Syria should not avoid when talking to Israel?

These 2 countries had an off and on dialog for years. But they never made it to the final stage. it seems so easy actually, because compared to the Palestinian complex this is a no brainer. See www.jpost.com of today.

I have been to the Golan Heights and its clear that the return of this land can be part of a new trust and agreement between the 2 countries. I think that the people in both countries would welcome it. As you visit Syria every summer, wondered what your take on this is? Can Syria with the help of Turkey or the USA take a new direction?