New shuttle diplomacy between Syria and Israel reported

Is there a secret shuttle diplomacy between Syria and Israel? This question was raised following reports in Israel that a leading American Jewish businessman has left for the Middle East and is due to visit both Syria and Israel.

Quoting its correspondent in Washington, Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported Friday that Jewish American businessman Daniel Abrams left two days ago in his private plane for a Middle East shuttle mission, during which he will meet President Hafez Assad in Damascus and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israeli. Abrams, owner of the Slimfast company which provides weight loss treatment centers, is head of an American center for peace which he founded.

The paper said Abrams has met with Assad dozens of times in the past, and apparently has managed to win the trust of the Syrian leader. It added that in the last few years he has carried messages between Assad and Netanyahu, as well as between Assad and previous premiers Rabin and Peres.

On his current visit Abrams will try to determine whether it’s possible for Syria and Israel to agree on certain points in order to begin any kind of dialogue on peace. The meeting between Assad and Abrams is scheduled for the beginning of this week.

Officials in Netanyahu's office said they are waiting to see what kind of message Assad will send through Abrams. Israeli officials are aware of Abrams’ good connections in Damascus and consider his information reliable. Sarah Herman, who heads a Middle East policy center, joined Abrams for the trip. She is considered one of President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton’s closest female associates. In addition, three members of the US Congress were invited onto the flight.