The Brink A Document on the Homeland A Historical Account of the Talks Between Hafez al-Assad and Henry Kissinger

Description

US President Richard Nixon wrote these words in his diary to describe his encounter with Assad: “Assad has exceeded my expectations based on my conversations with Henry. He was, as Henry said, a difficult negotiator, but he possesses a great deal of charm, mystery, and tremendous stamina. He laughs easily, and I can see that he would make a dynamic leader if he retained this ability to judge matters. In our last conversation, he strongly objected to separating the peace tracks, but, on the other hand, he was reasonable regarding our other regional approach. In short, he is a man of his word, and at his age – 44 – if he can avoid being shot or overthrown, he will be a leader of considerable importance in this part of the world.”

The first chapter of “The Brink of the Abyss” addresses the October War of 1973 and its immediate consequences. The second chapter reviews the frenetic diplomatic activity that followed the war, particularly the intensive preparations for the Geneva Peace Conference. The next three chapters—the fifth, sixth, and seventh—cover the long and arduous negotiations that led to the signing of the Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel in May 1974.

These chapters provide detailed and unprecedented accounts of the fourteen meetings that took place between Hafez al-Assad and Henry Kissinger during that crucial month; these talks constitute one of the longest rounds of shuttle diplomacy in modern history.

The eighth chapter, featuring previously unpublished research, examines the meeting between President Hafez al-Assad and US President Richard Nixon, the first American president to visit the Syrian capital.

The ninth chapter traces the deterioration of the relationship between Assad and Kissinger, as the latter continued his efforts to broker a bilateral agreement between Egypt and Israel, culminating in the Sinai II Agreement. Chapter Ten of “The Edge of the Abyss” examines the first sixty years of the Lebanese Civil War.

By presenting—for the first time—a detailed and well-documented account of the historical period following the October War of 1973, “The Edge of the Abyss” fills a significant gap in the writing of Middle Eastern history.