Israeli political circles expect Syria to agree to an extension of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights when its mandate expires May 30. But Israel is taking strong precautionary measures in view of the unpredictable nature of the Damascus regime and in anticipation of a new flare-up of terrorist activity from southern Lebanon.
Southeastern Lebanon, long a staging area for terrorist incursions against Israel; has been quiet for months because of the civil war pitting Moslems against Christians in Lebanon. But renewed activity has been seen along the Lebanese border and Israeli authorities expect the terrorists to launch attacks either before the UNDOF mandate expires ten days from now or immediately afterwards.
The terrorists may act, Israeli circles say, to demonstrate their independence of Damascus, and the Syrians, paradoxically, may try to thwart them for military and political reasons. These circles believe Syria will acquiesce to a renewal of UNDOF because it does not want to precipitate a crisis with Israel at a time when it is deeply enmeshed in the complex Lebanese situation.
A clear statement of intentions may be forthcoming next week when UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim visits Damascus, Waldheim is expected to press Syrian President Hafez Assad to extend the UNDOF mandate. Meanwhile, it was learned that Libya has intervened in Lebanon with the apparent intention of supporting the Moslem leftists.
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