ISRAEL

Haaretz: Jewish mini-state to give Washington instructions for Middle East, Israel to U.S.: Now deal with Syria and Iran

Ha`aretz Monday, April 14, 2003 8:56 AM
By ALUF BENN

JERUSALEM­­Two of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior aides will go to
Washington for separate talks this week. National Security Advisor
Efraim
Halevy will discuss the regional implications of the Iraq war and the
fall
of the Ba'ath regime, and the prime minister's bureau chief Dov
Weisglass
will bring the White House Israel's comments on the "road map" plan for
a
peace settlement. Israel will suggest that the United States also take
care
of Iran and Syria because of their support for terror and pursuit of
weapons of mass destruction. Israel will point out the support of
Syria
and Iran for Hezbollah, which the U.S. considers an important target in
the
war against international terrorism. American officials recently said
in
closed conversations that the U.S. will act against Syria and Iran, but
not
by military means. The American administration is very angry with Syria
for
its support of Iraq during the war and its willingness to take in
defectors
from Saddam Hussein's regime. As for Iran, the administration suggests
working with the UN and Atomic Energy Commission to halt the Iranian
nuclear program.

Weisglass is scheduled to meet National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice
and present Israel's reservations on the road map. Senior government
sources said Weisglass's goal is "to make sure things that disturb us
won't
happen." The administration has made it clear in advance that it is not
ready to reopen the road map for discussion and will present it to both
sides as is, after the new Palestinian government headed by Abu Mazen
is
sworn in . Israeli sources assume Weisglass will try to reach "agreed
principles to implement the plan" with the Americans that will take
Israel's "red lines"into consideration. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom
spoke with his U.S. counterpart Colin Powell on Friday to prepare for
the
talks. Shalom said Israeli comments on the road map were meant "to
facilitate its
implementation," and explain the political pressures on Sharon's
government. He said "our comments will help get the road map approved
by
the cabinet."