Masalha statements on the Syrian- Israeli peace talks
Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/17/2000

Israeli Foreign Minister Nawaf Masalha has expressed his belief that next spring will witness the signing of a peace agreement between Syria and Israel.

In an interview with Sawt al-Arab radio on Saturday, Masalha added that the past two rounds of peace negotiations between Syria and Israel have realized a rapprochement in the viewpoints towards several issues in the second round of talks, saying that the questions of borders and security arrangements are considered the most important issues on the agenda of the negotiations.

Replying to a question on the differences prevailing the Israeli street over the withdrawal from the Golan, Masalha stated that these differences are real and that the gap is very big between the right and the left wings in Israel over the withdrawal from the Golan.

He said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will settle these differences if a proper peace agreement is reached with Syria.

Masalha continued that Lebanon will decide to join the talks if progress is attained with Syria, and if such a peace with Syria is not attained Lebanon will not eventually join the talks, especially as Lebanon has no problems concerning Israel.

On the contrary, Masalha continued Israel wants to pull out from south Lebanon, and Lebanon will wait until a genuine progress in the negotiations between Syria and Israel.

Replying to another question on when such a progress will take place, Masalha stated that it will not take a long time because all sides want it in the spring or by the beginning of summer as the referendum in Israel might take place before the months of July and September, months during which hundreds thousands of the Israelis leave Israel for tourism abroad.

He added, "According to my own assessment the agreement will be with the beginning of this summer, after which Lebanon will join the negotiations," adding that there is an agreement between Syria and Lebanon on these negotiations.

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