Israel is watching with considerable concern the latest foray into inter-Arab diplomacy by Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt, the only Arab country with which Israel is officially at peace.
Mubarak arrived Wednesday in Damascus, on the first visit to Syria in 12 years by an Egyptian head of state.
Syrian President Hafez Assad broke diplomatic relations with Cairo in 1979, when Mubarak’s predecessor, the late President Anwar Sadat, signed a peace treaty with Israel. The Syrian leader vowed he would never forgive Egypt.
But the two countries resumed diplomatic ties last December.
But on Wednesday, Mubarak was welcomed in Damascus with a red carpet, a 21-gun salute and a warm hug from Assad. The arrival ceremony was broadcast live on radio, unusual for Damascus.
Israel’s uneasiness stems from the main purpose of Mubarak’s trip, which is to mediate a rapprochement between Syria and its neighbor Iraq, long bitter foes ruled by rival factions of the Socialist Ba’ath party.
Syria, in fact, was the only Arab country that supported Iran in its eight-year war with Iraq.
Israel fears that if Mubarak succeeds in ending their enmity, a new eastern front could develop, with the armies of Iraq, Syria and Jordan aligned against Israel, perhaps even with the passive cooperation of Egypt.
But on closer study, deep differences in the Arab camp become apparent.
SYRIA SETS CONDITIONS FOR TALKS
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, who recently threatened to destroy “half of Israel” with chemical weapons, is trying to draw Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization under his military umbrella.
Although Mubarak went to Damascus with a message of detente between Syria and Iraq, he is keenly aware that he is competing with Baghdad for leadership of the Arab world. While Iraq is pushing a militaristic stand against Israel, Mubarak is pursuing a diplomatic option.
By joining ranks with the United States in speeding up the peace process, the Egyptian president hopes Israel can be cornered into making concessions. He would like Syria to be his ally, instead of an obstacle to his diplomacy.
The extent of his success so far can be measured by the message sent earlier this week by Syria to Egypt, expressing readiness to join the peace process.
Syria, of course, set conditions.
Israel would have to talk to all parties, including the PLO; withdraw to its 1967 borders; change its policies in the administered territories; and agree to an international peace conference under the auspices of the U.N. Security Council.
Iraq, meanwhile, is urging an Arab summit conference to discuss the “threats” posed by large-scale Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel.
Egypt so far has declined to give its blessings to such a conference. But Mubarak may do so if he is assured the summit will not undermine his efforts to restore Egypt to its one-time position as uncontested leader of the Arab world.
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