Officials here have reacted with a large measure of incredulity to a spate of stories in Haaretz this week to the effect that Syria is now contemplating interim talks with Israel. The paper’s diplomatic writer Matti Golan has reported that President Hafez Assad expressed readiness in principle to meet with President Ford, and readiness in principle to consider an interim settlement with Israel.
However, Assad still insists, according to Golan, that such a settlement be linked to the Palestinian question–but has become vaguer than in the past on the precise nature of this link. Officials here say firmly they have no evidence to back any of Golan’s reports or assessments.
They note that Syria has issued no official statement with regard to its intentions of renewing the UNDOF mandate, due to expire May 30. They predict that Damascus will reserve its position till the very last moment. There is no evidence either, the officials here say, that Assad has softened his earlier refusal to contemplate interim talks with Israel.
On the other hand, officials here do acknowledge that a dramatic improvement has occurred in Assad’s relations with Washington as a result of the close collaboration between Syria and the U.S. over Syria’s involvement in Lebanon. There have been reports that this involvement has been regulated through secret diplomatic contacts between Syria, the U.S. and Israel.
Some observers here feel that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger may well want to exploit this situation of rapprochement between Washington and Damascus in order to promote American-orchestrated Israel-Syria peace talks.
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