Some Land for Peace

ALMOST EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST peace talks assumes that optimism is probably unwarranted and possibly unwise. Nevertheless, Israel and Syria are putting out signals that have even veteran skeptics paying close attention. Officials in Jerusalem said last week they were preparing a negotiating paper that would offer Syria a deal on the Golan Heights in return for a formal peace treaty.

For the first time, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said his government was ready to trade land for peace with Syria, "and this means a readiness for some sort of territorial compromise." Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara says an offer to return only part of the heights "is unacceptable." But Israel hints that a deal may result. "It's the first time that there's been a real exchange of opinions," says Rabin. "It's without precedent."