Sen. Paul Tsongas (D. Mass.) appeared optimistic over prospects for Middle East peace after meeting with Premier Menachem Begin here Friday and an earlier meeting with King Hussein of Jordan in Amman. Israeli sources said Tsongas brought no message to Begin from the Jordanian ruler.
Begin told the American lawmaker that he would welcome Hussein’s entry into the peace process but insisted that Israel would never accept a freeze on settlement activity as a condition for broadening the peace talks. Tsongas, for his part, could cite no specific statement or commitment by the King indicating that he was ready to join the talks.
HINTS ISRAEL SHOULD FORCE SYRIANS OUT
To the surprise of many Israelis, the Massachusetts Democrat seemed convinced that Syria was currently the obstacle to peace and indicated that if the Syrians refused to pull their forces out of Lebanon he, personally, would not disapprove the use of force by Israel to get them out.
“It seems to me that we are in a situation where there is an obstacle to peace and that obstacle must be removed,” Tsongas told reporters. “If Syria should turn out to be that obstacle in terms of withdrawal from Lebanon, then that obstacle must be removed as well.” He added, “If the Lebanese government asks the Syrians to withdraw, if the PLO makes it clear it will do so and the Israelis do so also, and the Syrians refuse, that to me is an unacceptable situation.”
Asked if he meant military force should be used against Syria, Tsongas replied, “I for one would not object.” Asked if he would support an American armed role in such an operation, the Senator said he thought the Israelis could handle the Syrians themselves.
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