Palestinian anxiety toward negative effects of resuming Israeli - Syrian talks

Political analysts expressed yesterday their fear of the negative effects of resuming Israeli - Syrian negotiations on the Palestinian track, adding that this decision could lead to weakening the Palestinians' stance in the troubled talks with Israel.

However, Palestinian President Yasser Araft welcomed resuming the negotiations on the Syrian track.

Ghasan El-Khateeb manager of Jerusalem's center for communications said the Palestinian officials are dissatisftied by the decision to resume the Israeli - Syrian negotiations out of a mistaken belief that they are in a competition with the Syrian track.

The developments on the Syrian track coincided with the failure of final status negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis due to the settlements issue.

Meanwhile, President Mubarak said the talks were facing successive crises as a result of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak`s intransigence. He, However, voiced hope that progress would be realized on the Palestinians track despite the great difficulties Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was facing.