Beilin, Masalha and the Syrian track

Israel Radio said on Friday that Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin discussed on Thursday night in Washington with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the question of resuming negotiations with Syria.

Beilin said the formula which avails resumption of these negotiations is the main obstacle to resuming negotiations with Syria from the point at which they broke off in 1996, but under the condition fo not putting things that did not exist in these negotiations.

On this ground, Beilin said, "The US plays a critical role in resuming these negotiations. Beilin added "until now no formula has been reached that avails for resuming negotiations between Syria and Israel."

For his part, Israeli Knesset member and Deputy Foreign Minister Nawaf Masalha said on Friday morning in a lengthy interview with Israel Radio that the US and "perhaps" Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah of Jordan will find the formula for resuming negotiations with Syria.