Threat on the Eastern Front

Israeli military circles have warned against a new threat on the eastern front, once an Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty is signed, that may explode into hostilities involving the combined forces of Syria and Iraq. Reports from various Arab capitals today indicated that those countries are pooling their military strength on a large scale.

Tensions were heightened by Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat’s warning in Amman yesterday that “the whole Middle East will explode If Sadat signs the pact” with Israel and his thinly veiled assassination these against Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

The Syrian government’s official newspaper, Tisnrin, warned yesterday that a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt would leave no choice but war to the confrontation states, Syria and Iraq. The Kuwaiti daily, Al-Siyassa, reported yesterday that three Iraqi divisions have entered Syria in the past few days ender their recent agreement to establish a joint military command Israeli military circles claimed that Iraq and Syria are secretly speeding up their agreement to counter a peace treaty According to the Israelis, the agreement calls for Iraqi units to be stationed in Syria in support of Syria forces facing Israel.

AMFOR SOUNDS WARNING

Arafat met with King Hussein of Jordan yesterday at the Motrog air base to discuss possible action against the peace treaty. They reportedly agreed to restst attempt “to liquidate the rights of the Palestinians” Speaking to a Radio Luxembourg reporter Arafat said, “We shall insist that the oil embargo imposed on Egypt for it is inconceivable that Egypt should receive Arab oil while it intends to ship Egyptian oil to Israel. ” He also warned that Soda. “will pay for his treachery” and recalled that King Farouk’s Prime Minister, Nokrashi Pasha, was assassinated after he signed the armistice agreements with Israel in 1949.

Meanwhile, a U.S. delegation headed by President Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brazezinski was in Amman today for meetings with Hussein. The delegation was in Riyadh Saudi Arabia yesterday where it met with King Khaled. The purpose apparently is to convince the Saudis and Jordanians to take no over action against the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty if they continue to boycott the peace process itself.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Faisal and the U.S. Embassy issued statements after Brzezinski’s departure saying the two countries agree to “remain in close contact in connection with the evolving issues in the region. ” However, Faisal emphasized that “security and stability in the region can only be achieved through meeting the aspirations of Arab, Islamic and Palestinian nations and based on a just and comprehensive peace.

The Embassy statement noted that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia “respect and appreciate the underlying concern for peace which forms the basis for national policies.” It described the visit by the American delegation as “friendly” and that the discussions were “serious and far-ranging” and emphasized “the commonality of values and interest between our two nations.”

In Amman, Brzezinski met for three hours with Hussein today in what was described by the American official as “useful and constructive” talks. During the meeting, Brzezinski gave Hussein a message from Garter. However, it was not revealed what was in the letter or the content of the talks between the two officials. The U.S. delegation left this afternoon for Cairo.