War apparently burns bright — and he
is determined to restore that situation.
Assad reportedly spurned Barak's
proposal that Syria agree to let Israel
hold a narrow strip of land along the
eastern shore in return for the el-
Hama hot springs, located southeast
of the sea, which were clearly part of
Palestine under the 1923 British-
French demarcation of the border
between Palestine and Syria.
Assad has maintained throughout the
recent years of on-and-off negotiations
that he does not recognize the 1923
international border and that he would
only accept the June 4, 1967 line.
On that date, Syrian soldiers were
in occupation of el-Hama — so, in
Assad's view, it is not Barak's to cede.
Beyond the impasse over substance,
the failed Geneva summit will almost
certainly have a negative impact on
Israeli public opinion, which is already
wary of Assad's peaceable intentions.
The perceived humiliation of Clinton
in Geneva will likewise not go over
well in Israel.
These are vital considerations, given
that any agreement that Israel reaches
with Syria must pass a referendum.
The erosion of public support for
what is now a highly hypothetical
peace policy will in turn have a nega-
tive impact on Barak's ability to hold
his disparate coalition together.
A possible peace treaty with Syria
served as something of a bond, since
both Shas and Meretz, despite their
vast differences on so many other
issues, were both committed to a land-
for-peace policy with Damascus.
Syria's rejection will inevitably weaken
that bond.
Barak's aides say he will press ahead
with the Palestinian track — but here,
too, the domestic difficulties are likely
to be no less dangerous for the pre-
mier. If the pro-settler National
Religious Party secedes over giving the
Palestinian Authority additional por-
tions of the West Bank, a disaffected
Shas, seething over Yosef's "victimiza-
tion" by the "establishment," would
probably leave, too — leaving Barak
with no majority in the Knesset.
The only consolation Barak could
take — and that was pretty slight —
was that Israeli police said Tuesday
they are recommending that his Likud
predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, be
indicted on charges of bribery, fraud
and obstruction of justice, and his
wife, Sara, with theft. The case
involves official gifts they allegedly
took with them when Netanyahu left
office and services they received from
a Jerusalem contractor. ❑
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backgrounds. Our innovative curriculum includes a preparatory program to
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Opening with
9th and 10th grades
in August 2000
The Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit offers:
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be the best they can be.
SWISH
CADEMY
Metropolitan Detroit
all now for an application, contact Head of School, Rabbi Lee Buckman, at
248-592-JAMD (5263), or Director of Recruitment, Dana Rhodes, at 248-489-5669.
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