Arab societies are just too conservative.
Even fax machines were banned until recently under Hafez Assad's rule. Yet with an end to Mr. Assad's 30-year reign, Syria's pivotal role as a Middle East peace spoiler may now come to an end. Such a transition won't be easy. The dictatorial Assad, after all, had nine years of contact with Israel to make a deal. He let a dispute over a sliver of shoreline on the Sea of Galilee stand in the way.