Funerals are strange events. They occasionally bring together the worst foes, who forget their differences and unite in mourning the deceased.

Sometimes, these reunions of former rivals transform a soured relationship into a sweet one.

So when President Moshe Katsav announced that he had shaken hands at the Pope's funeral with the presidents of two countries who are formally Israel's enemies, many people began to wonder: Is this the opening for peace between Israel and its Syrian and Iranian foes?

Syria's official news agency has acknowledged the handshake, while Iranian President Muhammad Khatami has denied it ever took place. Israel and Syria are in a formal state of war; peace talks between the countries broke down in 2000. Israel and Iran have had no relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

In the case of Syrian President Bashar Assad, analysts agree that the handshakes were significant. However, they don't necessarily mean a sudden change in relations between the countries.

"It was without a doubt a meaningful act," said Professor Eyal Zisser, a Syria expert from the Dayan Institute at Tel Aviv University. Zisser, who wrote a biography on the young Assad's father, Hafez, said it would never have happened with the elder Assad.

"All these years, the Syrians have seen the handshake as taboo," said Zisser. "It gives hope and shows that the son is someone very different from his father."

Fahed al-Fanek, an analyst and columnist for the Jordanian daily Al-Rai, told The Jerusalem Post that the act was a means of communicating a desire for back-channel talks with both Syria and Iran.

"It was an unconditional invitation," said Fanek. "It is a message to say, 'We are ready to talk, so send your people and start the connections.'"

Syria has said numerous times it wants to return to the negotiating table where the talks between the two countries left off in 2000. Israel has said it wants no preconditions. Iran has stated in the past its support for the destruction of Israel.

But, the internationally renowned Syria expert, Patrick Seale, told the Post that he "wouldn't put any meaning into [the handshakes]." According to Seale, the only reason the elder Assad did not shake an Israeli leader's hand was "because there was no opportunity." Both Zisser and Seale said that without a context for a change in the relationship between Damascus and Jerusalem the handshakes would change nothing.

"The fundamentals have to change," said Seale, who said that the ball was in the Israelis' court. "Assad has been trying to make peace for years, but the Israelis haven't been responding to his overtures."

In November, Assad offered Israel peace negotiations without preconditions. Israel officially dismissed the offer as "not serious," but Katsav at the time told the Ma'ariv daily that Israel should test it out.

"In my opinion it is important and worthwhile to thoroughly check out the intentions of Bashar Assad, if he really wants to make peace with us," Katsav said.

In the meanwhile, it appears too early to celebrate.

"I wouldn't belittle it, but without context it remains as it is," said Zisser – a handshake.