Arafat is concerned over the Palestinian track

The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily said on Monday, quoting sources close to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, that Arafat is in a state of chaos and unrest since the election of Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak.

The sources said Arafat is strongly concerned over Barak's statements about revitalizing the Syrian track and over the possibility of reaching an agreement concerning the Golan in preparation for withdrawing the Israeli army from south Lebanon at the expense of the Palestinian track.

The paper added, quoting Palestinian sources in Gaza ,that Arafat is seeking relentlessly to visit Syria and hold a summit with President Hafez al-Assad in an attempt to eliminate these fears and coordinate future steps.

The paper also quoted Palestinian sources in Damascus as saying that there are Arab, Jordanian, Egyptian and Palestinian negotiations to convene a meeting between al-Assad and Arafat.

The paper reported "preliminary Syrian consent for the visit," but its date was not set, yet it is expected not to be made before the formation of the new Israeli government.