EP114: Hafiz al-Assad

Hafiz al-Assad was the President of Syria between 1970 and 2000. Father of present Syrian leader Bashar, Hafiz inherited a country in disarray, beset by political and religious division at home, and subject to interference from regional powers. 

Displaying extraordinary brutality, Hafiz imposed order on Syria’s diverse population and also turned his country into an important decision maker. His troops intervened in Lebanon’s dreadful civil war, and occupied large parts of the country for the rest of Hafiz’s life. As well as cementing Hafiz’s own position, this also strengthened Assad’s hand in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Hafiz understood that for small countries, geopolitical success rests on making yourself difficult to be dispensed of, or overlooked. The career of my guest today shows how well Hafiz did this; in conjunction with his role as Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Itamar Rabinovich was Israel’s Chief Negotiator with Syria from 1993 until 1996, at a time when many believed that peace between Israel and Palestine hinged upon Syrian recognition of Israel. Rabinovich has dedicated his life to researching Syria, and its relations (or lack thereof) with Israel, and is the author of 14 books on the country.