vra
James Baker:
Mideast Liasion?
Mideast analysts were puzzled,
and Jewish right-wingers posi-
tively thrilled by last week's
reports that the Clinton admin-
istration sanctioned a Mideast
shuttle mission by former Secre-
tary of State James A. Baker. III.
The hard-liners are happy be-
cause the reports, which surfaced
in an Israeli newspaper interview
with Itamar Rabinovich, that
country's outgoing ambassador to
Washington, are another arrow
in their quiver as they take aim
at the Clinton administration.
Mr. Baker, remembered for his
frequent clashes with Israel's
leaders and what many regard-
ed as his antipathy to pro-Israel
forces in this country, reportedly
was responding to requests from
Syria.
Mr. Rabinovich reportedly told
Ha'aretz that Mr. Baker met with
the late Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin and Syrian leader Hafez
al-Assad last year, a report con-
firmed by Israeli officials in Wash-
ington.
But early this week, the White
House continued to remain mum
on the subject, despite queries
from reporters.
And several close observers of
the peace process were baffled.
`The administration may have
been right in trying to leave no
stone unturned in the effort to
bring Syria and Israel back to the
negotiating table," said an official
with a major Jewish group here.
"But it's hard to imagine how
Baker could have been seen as
the right man for the job, given
the baggage he carries with the
Israelis and with the American
Jewish community."
In any event, Mr. Baker was
no more successful than his suc-
cessor, Secretary of State Warren
Christopher, in narrowing the
wide Syrian-Israeli rift. ❑
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