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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (579)	11/25/2001 10:12:48 AM
From: Scoobah	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32591

PM to ask for U.S. warning in case of action against Iraq By Aluf Benn, Nathan Guttman and Daniel Sobelman In his upcoming meeting with U.S. President George Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will discuss the next phase of America's war against terror, in particular the possibility of action against Iraq. Sharon will tell Bush that Israel expects advance warning of any operation against Iraq, since it would have direct impact upon Israeli security. Israeli officials, in the meantime, are preparing for the impending visit of a U.S. peace delegation led by retired general Anthony Zinni. Israel will offer the delegation, which heads to the region today, a basket of goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians. These measures could be implemented prior to the establishment of a cease-fire should Palestinian Authority leadership display a commitment to the war against terror and take steps such as arresting suspects. "If we see willingness on the Palestinians' part to fight terror, [Israel] will enact some good-will gestures, and these will help us build-up relations with Zinni," Israeli officials said yesterday. The prime minister will request stronger diplomatic and strategic coordination with Washington in the event of U.S.-led action against Iraq. Should Baghdad retaliate against an American attack by striking Israel, Sharon expects that the United States will not try to stop Israeli reprisals against Iraq, Israeli sources told Ha'aretz. Current circumstances differ from those during the 1991 Gulf War, when America demanded Israel refrain from counter-strikes after Saddam Hussein's regime fired scud missiles, the sources added. "There's no reason why the United States should limit Israel this time, should Saddam Hussein attack us," they said. Sharon is scheduled to depart for the United States on Thursday. He will begin his trip with a solidarity visit to New York, where he is expected to meet outgoing Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as well as mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg. Sharon will meet with Bush at the White House next Monday and will hold a series of discussions with Congressional leaders the following day before returning to Israel. Zinni, along with Undersecretary of State William Burns and State Department colleague Aaron Miller are expected to arrive here tomorrow afternoon and will have its first working meeting with Sharon on Tuesday. U.S. officials emphasize that the goal of the Zinni mission is to bring about a halt to violence and create conditions for resumed talks as outlined in the Mitchell program. Zinni's visit is not limited, and officials indicated he could remain in the region for at least two weeks. According to the Israeli officials, the success of Zinni's visit depends upon the outcome of his meetings with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. "Circumstances will never be more conducive to exerting decisive pressure on Arafat," the sources said. "Arafat already faces internal pressure from heads of the Palestinian security apparatus who want to end the intifada. Arafat must adopt measures to bring about a cease-fire if he wants to continue," the sources added. Sharon believes the attainment of a cease-fire is of "supreme importance," the sources said. "Israel will make every effort on behalf of a cease-fire, but the real test is now faced by Arafat and others in the Palestinian leadership. They have to prove they are serious about moving ahead with the peace process." Senior PA official Saeb Erekat said yesterday that the PA will submit to Zinni a list of Israeli transgressions of past agreements as well as evidence of suffering endured by Palestinians due to Israel's policy. The PA will give the delegation maps of IDF checkpoints in the territories, detailed accounts of Israeli allocations to West Bank and Gaza settlements and data about economic hardship faced by Palestinians.