The hope of closing this deal helps explain why several Israeli governments have shown such extraordinary flexibility in dealing with the strongman of Damascus, even to the point of offering him the Golan Heights, hoping this will put a stop to missiles and terrorists crossing the border. Even after he has the Golan, there is good reason to suppose Hizbullah would still harass Israel.
Stronger medicine is needed.
Turkey's recent experience suggests what that might be. But this agreement did little good, as PKK attacks soon picked up again. In fact, the situation got so bad that the Turkish president took the unprecedented step, in October 1989, of publicly threatening Damascus to live up to the 1987 agreement or find its water supply diminished. This warning did lead to a reduction in PKK attacks, but not for long. Within months, however, attacks resumed.