Patrick Seale indicates weakness in Barak's government
Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/15/2000

The Israeli daily Jerusalem Post has quoted the well-known British journalist Patrick Seale as saying on Tuesday that the Syrian leadership is deeply concerned over the weakness it feels in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his government.

Seale, who was talking in a press conference held at Haifa University on the Middle East peace process, added that the decision recently taken by the Israeli Knesset over the special referendum on the Golan is "something which of course worries the Syrians."

Seale remarked that President al-Assad, Prime Minsiter Barak and US President Bill Clinton want to reach an agreement, but the atmosphere surrounding the negotiations is "unfortunately" in a very bad state.

He continued that it is very important to correct the situation and to bring back the Syrian and Israeli sides to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Israeli Radio quoted Seale as saying at his lecture at Haifa University in Tel Aviv on Tuesday on the sideline of the international conference on the Middle East peace process as saying that the price expected behind achieving peace between Syria and Israel will be heavy despite concessions by the two sides, adding that the Syrians and Israelis should be flexible in their stances in order to achieve peace.

He added that the Arab states today in the year 2000 is not the same as it was in 1967 or between the years of 1973 and 1982, saying that Israel has lost the war with the Hizbullah.

Seale warned against the failure of attempts aimed at achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East, noting that Arab solidarity against Israel endangers it especially what "we feel of Iranian initiatives to approach the Arab world and Iran's announcing reconciliation with Saudi Arabia."

He added that the US seeks to make a balance in its relations with Israel and the Arab states and therefore it will not be biased toward Israel forever.

One Israeli official, attending the meeting, A. Zeif, commented on Seale's statements by saying that they do not have anything new and are tough. He added these statements "reflect views, ideas and voices we heard from Damascus."

Previous Stories:
  On Syrian- Israeli peace talks   (3/14/2000)
  Israeli proposals to withdraw from the Golan   (3/13/2000)
  Israeli officials and withdrawal from Syria and Lebanon   (3/13/2000)

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