ABSTRACT
Syria might refuse to sign an agreement with Israel until the Palestinian problem is resolved and Israel agrees to a complete withdrawal from Judea-Samaria and Gaza. In pursuit of its policy to bring other Arab states, and the Palestinians in particular, into its sphere of influence, Syria is endeavoring to coordinate negotiating positions with the other delegations and place them under its auspices. It is unlikely that Syria would be willing to sign a completely separate agreement with Israel. The Syrian leadership, including President Assad, has long asserted that the problem of Palestine is Syria's problem. An additional aspect of that reaction was Assad's antipathy for Chairman Arafat and the mainstream Palestine Liberation Organization, and his scepticism regarding Arafat's viability as a partner in an Israel-Arab settlement. In addition, both Israel and Syria perceive the talks to be linked with the Palestinian question.
