Not only Israel faces two fronts. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell took a few hours off from his Arafat-Sharon mediating efforts today to hop over to Lebanon and Syria, in an attempt to quiet Hizbullah attacks along Israel\'s northern border. Syria is known to be a backer, together with Iran, of the Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon. After his meeting in Damascus with Syrian President Assad, Powell will return to Israel and meet tonight with Yasser Arafat. On the agenda: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon\'s proposal for a regional peace conference.
A major question regarding such a conference will be whether it will be on the Foreign Minister level or on the Chief Executive level. If the latter, Israel will have to decide whether Yasser Arafat will be allowed to participate. Justice Minister Meir Shetreet, who has expressed very hawkish views of late, said that Arafat would be allowed to take part under certain conditions. Arafat himself says that he would agree to attend the conference only if Israel withdraws from all of Area A.
A major question regarding such a conference will be whether it will be on the Foreign Minister level or on the Chief Executive level. If the latter, Israel will have to decide whether Yasser Arafat will be allowed to participate. Justice Minister Meir Shetreet, who has expressed very hawkish views of late, said that Arafat would be allowed to take part under certain conditions. Arafat himself says that he would agree to attend the conference only if Israel withdraws from all of Area A.