Syria's ruling party newspaper, Al-Baath, trashed US President Bill Clinton's latest Middle East peace proposals Monday for being pro-Israeli.
"More than one Israeli source has assured us that they (the proposals) are in agreement with the Hebrew state's agenda," Al-Baath said.
The paper warned "this means Israeli claims hostile to a just and comprehensive peace have won the day" on the question of the Palestinian refugees' right of return, east Jerusalem and the size of a future Palestinian state.
It added Israel manipulates its negotiations to pressure the Palestinians with US assistance. The paper predicted the Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, would sink Clinton's peace efforts. The Palestinian people "will not give the American president a 'triumph' at the end of his second term," al-Baath said.
After five days of negotiations in Washington last week, Palestinian and Israeli peace delegations met with US President Bill Clinton who presented the broad outlines of a final settlement between the two sides.
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat have until Wednesday to let Clinton know if they accept his propositions as a precursor to a potential summit and final peace deal -- DAMASCUS (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
