Israeli sources and Geneva summit
Syria-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/22/2000

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot on Tuesday quoted an official Israeli source as saying that most of the items of the peace agreement with Syria have been completed, according to Israeli Radio.

The radio report added, quoting another Israeli official, that Syria has conveyed to Israel during the recent days, via the US, explanations of the three main points of difference, which are the al-Sheikh Mountain, the border lines at the Tabaraya lake region and normalization of relations.

The paper added that Syria made it clear to the US that it had not, at any time pumped waters from Tabaraya lake or polluted the lake.

The Israeli paper also quoted an official source in an Arab state, close to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Hafez al-Assad, as saying that there is an understanding, according to which the border line will pass just 40 meters from the lake of Tabaraya, as the closest point.

Meanwhile, British journalist Patrick Seale said it is expected that US President Bill Clinton will convey to President al-Assad during their very close meeting in Geneva several confirmations from Barak concerning complete withdrawal from the Golan.

In a news report from Tel Aviv, published on Tuesday by the London-based al-Hayat daily, Seale said it is expected that, in return, the US president will receive confirmation at the same level of certainty and clarity from President al-Assad on the issues of waters, the security and normalization..

Seale said that diplomatic sources expected that in case the Geneva summit will be a success between Presidents al-Assad and Clinton, negotiations in Washington will be resumed within days. The sources indicated the possibility of reaching a Syrian- Israeli agreement and a Lebanese- Israeli agreement within two months.

Meanwhile, Monte Carlo radio stated that Seale conveyed during his recent visit to Israel a message revealing Syria's readiness to resume peace talks on the ground of Barak's pledge to withdraw until June 4 border lines.

The radio added that Seale made it clear to Israel that unless it avails itself of this limited chance, an adverse impact will be inflicted on the region.

The political commentator at channel two in the Israeli television said on Monday that the failure of Clinton to win the consent of President al-Assad to resume the negotiations would mean the end of the peace process.

He added that Israel said yes to withdrawal on the ground of the June 4, border lines, yes to an Israeli presence (only temporarily) in al-Sheikh mountain and "yes" for a reciprocated deal: which means al-Hemmah for the Syrians and Tabaraya for Israel, and therefore Clinton sees that the ball is now at the Syrian court, after this deal.

The Monte Carlo radio also added that the political advisor to the Israeli prime minister left on Monday for Washington in order to discuss the compensation Israel demanded in case an agreement is reached with Syria. The compensations is estimated at US $17 billion, besides advanced weapons and the most sophisticated warplanes in the region, S 22 and AWACS spy planes.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian commentator and al-Assad - Clinton summit   (3/21/2000)
  Damascus radio commentary on Israeli tactics   (3/18/2000)
  Damascus: Peace is a strategic goal   (3/16/2000)

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