Israeli minister stresses the need of withdrawal from the Golan

Israeli Minister of Industry and Commerce Ran Cohen has asserted that a peace agreement cannot be attained with Syria without withdrawal from the Golan and guaranteeing what he called the solution of security and water problems.

Cohen expressed in an interview with Israel Radio on Tuesday his regret over the Palestinian position which he described as tough towards the Wye River agreement. He claimed that Israel intends to make amendments to this agreement in the interests of the Palestinians.

Cohen criticized statements made by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, saying that Barak is working to achieve a just peace in the region.

Meanwhile, Israeli political sources concerned in occupied Jerusalem described the current crisis between the Palestinian government and Israel over the implementation of Wye agreement as "a passing by," noting that the coming days will find a solution to this crisis.

The sources accused the Palestinians of trying to create a problem in order to obligate US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who will arrive in the region shortly, to give the Israeli - Palestinian track top priority.