Israel has no objections to the renewal of diplomatic relations between the United States and Iraq, announced in Washington yesterday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Avi Pazner told reporters here today that Israel considered it the norm for the U.S. to maintain relations with all countires as long as this was not at Israel’s expense.
A senior official here said Israel accepted the Reagan Administration’s assurances that the resumption of relations with Baghdad will not be harmful to Israel’s interests and that the U.S. has no intention of selling arms to Iraq.
U.S. ADMINISTRATION’S CONTENTION CHALLENGED
Pazner, however, challenged the Administration’s contention that Iraq no longer regards itself as a “front line state” in the Arab-Israeli conflict. He said Israel does not consider Iraq a moderate Arab state and suggested that Baghdad has not engaged in anti-Israel activities in recent years only because all of its resources are committed to its war with Iran which began in 1980.
Iraq broke relations with the U.S. following the 1967 Six-Day War on grounds that the Israeli victory was achieved with American help. The restoration of relations was announced by a senior Administration official at the White House following a meeting of Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz with President Reagan. Israeli sources said Israel has known for some time that this move was underway.
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