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Israel fears isolation
by new U.S. coalition

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, September 26, 2001

JERUSALEM Ñ Israel fears that it will be the victim of a U.S.-led coalition against terrorism.

Officials said they are concerned that Israel's will be increasingly isolated as both the United States and European Union distance themselves from the Jewish state in an attempt to woo Arab and Islamic support for a coalition.



They have also raised scenarios that Washington and the EU will sell weapons to Arab states and Iran and pressure Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians.

"When this campaign against Bin Laden is over, Iran will continue its support for terrorism, but with a kosher certificate from the United States," Israeli Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has been monitoring what officials termed as the increasingly antagonistic statements coming from their counterparts in London and Washington. They said both U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw have privately accused Israel for Arab and Islamic opposition to a coalition against Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

Israeli officials were furious over remarks attributed by Straw in Teheran that appeared to blame Israel for Bin Laden attacks. At one point, Sharon threatened to boycott Straw's subsequent visit to Israel. Sharon, who succumbed to an appeal from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and met Straw, is said to be perturbed by Washington's battle against terrorism. Aides said the prime minister cited President George Bush's executive order that froze the assets of 27 terrorist organizations. The organizations did not contain any Palestinian or Lebanese groups.

"There is no difference between terrorism and terrorism, and murder is murder," Sharon said. "There are no terrorists who are good guys and every act of terror is horrific."

Diplomatic sources in Washington agree that the Israeli government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is coming under increasing pressure. They said the administration has quietly linked an Arab coalition to Israeli gestures toward the Palestinians.

"Most people I know in the administration do not believe that Sharon is willing to contemplate a negotiated settlement on any terms but those that the Palestinians would consider total submission and surrender," former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Edward Walker told the House International Relations subcommittee on the Middle East on Tuesday. "In the absence of U.S. resolution, we will lose the support of Arab states in the region as violence in the occupied territories escalates and local populations react and pressure their governments. And with that loss, we will lose our fight against terrorism. The choices, in my view are that stark."

Both Powell and Straw have urged Israel to agree to a summit with the Palestinian Authority. Powell telephoned both Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat twice each on Tuesday.

Israeli officials have acknowledged heavy U.S. pressure and the result is that Peres is scheduled to meet Arafat on Wednesday. Peres said another two meetings with Arafat are planned over the next month.

"We hope that a meeting can take place immediately," U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer said.

Earlier, Arafat returned to Gaza after a meeting planned with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus was called off at the last minute. Both men blamed the other for the cancellation. Diplomatic sources said the United States pressured both Arafat and Assad to cancel the meeting.

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