Masalha: Israel and Mauritania
Regional-Israel, Politics, 10/30/1999

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Nawaf Masalha has expressed his hope that the step taken in establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Mauritania on Thursday will mark the beginning of a just and durable peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Lebanon.

In a statement to Israel Radio on Friday Masalha also expressed his hope of opening all doors before the establishment of diplomatic and political relations between Israel and the Arab states.

Masalha also called on Syria and Lebanon to resume negotiations with Israel in a way that guarantees Syria as well as its role and the interests of Israel. He added, "We are confident that if talks start with Syria and Lebanon there will be a good result by the ultimate end."

He added to the same Israeli Radio report said there are contacts between Syria and Israel about peace via Egyptians, the Jordanians, the Spanish foreign minister who recently visited Damascus and Israel, the Norwegian foreign minister and the European Union in order to resume negotiations on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, noting that these attempts are continuous and that Israel will "find out the equilibrium for resuming the negotiations between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon."

He added that US President Bill Clinton wants to have the Syrian-Israeli negotiations resumed during his era and before the coming US elections.

"According to my understanding, it is the interests of Israel and the Arab states to have these negotiations started under the Clinton administration," Masalha added.

Previous Stories:
  Barak names head of his team for talks with the Palestinians   (10/26/1999)
  Beilin, Masalha and the Syrian track   (8/14/1999)
  Beilin, Masalha and the Syrian track   (8/14/1999)

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