U.S. to turn up the heat
on Syria after summit failure
Will back Israel's unilateral pullout from Lebanon
By Nitzan Horowitz,
Aluf Benn and Gideon Alon
Ha'aretz Correspondents (28/3/2000)
As President Clinton
headed back for Washington yesterday from his Geneva summit meeting with Syrian President
Hafez Assad, officials in Washington were struggling to conceal their frustration with the
Syrians, whom they blame for the continued impasse. In Jerusalem, U.S. peace envoy Dennis
Ross met with Ehud Barak, and told the prime minister that the Americans have yet to throw
in the towel, and will continue with efforts to bring about a resumption of Israel-Syria
talks.
Officially, the Clinton administration says it retains hopes that the Israel-Syrian talks
will resume, adding that Egypt's President Mubarak (who will visit the White House today)
should provide help. Yet disappointment emanating from the Geneva discussion casts a pall
over this official Washington pronouncement. The Geneva meeting confirmed American fears
concerning Assad's disposition. The Syrian leader proved to be rigid, and non-responsive
to the opportunity provided to him by Barak and Clinton.
In the wake of the Geneva fall-out, calls are being made in Washington for Clinton to step
up pressure against the Syrians, both by putting a focus on the Palestinian track, and by
openly supporting Israel's planned pull-out from Lebanon. Washington is considered likely
to accede. Referring to the Lebanon withdrawal, U.S. officials say that after Israel
fulfills its obligations under UN Resolution 425, Syria will face new circumstances and
tougher American policy.
The U.S. is concerned that Syria might reply with violence to a unilateral IDF pull-out.
To forestall escalation in the north, the U.S. is expected to demonstrate full support for
the Israeli withdrawal policy, warning Syria that it will be held to blame if violent
clashes occur near the northern border.
The Americans will inform Assad that the Grapes of Wrath understandings, which allow some
types of Hezbollah activity, will be rendered void by an Israeli withdrawal. The Americans
will warn that any border-crossing action taken by Hezbollah or other groups affiliated
with Syria will be considered international terror. Should Israel decide to respond to any
such unwarranted incursion, the U.S. will provide it full international support.
As part of the campaign to step-up pressure against Syria, the United States is in coming
weeks likely to ask Arab leaders to support Israel's pull-out from Lebanon. This topic
will be raised during Clinton's White House discussion today with Mubarak.
In Jerusalem meetings, U.S. envoy Dennis Ross briefed Prime Minister Barak about the
details of the Clinton-Assad summit. Ross met with Barak for a second time last night, and
was expected to leave Israel soon afterward.
According to a political official in Jerusalem, "Ross's reports didn't alter the
impression which Barak formed after speaking with Clinton when the summit ended."
The Israeli official explained that Barak "hasn't given up hope, and believes that
talks with Syria could resume, though he knows this prospect doesn't appear too
bright."
In the aftermath of the Geneva failure, Barak is reportedly planning to put preparations
for the unilateral Lebanon withdrawal in full swing. To this end, Foreign Minister David
Levy is expected to meet soon with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to discuss the
deployment of a UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon. Levy, who has recently appeared
skeptical about prospects of peace with Syria, declared yesterday: "It's possible
that Syria's moves are a tactic aiming to subordinate Israel. We'll wait patiently, hoping
that prudence will gain the upper hand there. Negotiations would be a farce, were we
supposed to comply with the ultimatum-like demands made by Syria."
Responding to the Geneva failure yesterday, Barak declared that Israel won't sign an
agreement harmful to its vital national interests. "We will make sure that Israel's
interests are protected," he declared.
The prime minister said that Israel will not sign an agreement with the Syrians, or with
the Palestinians, unless he is sure that "it strengthens Israel." He promised
that Israel will continue with efforts to resume talks with Syria - "we haven't
closed the door," he declared.
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