Word: arabia
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...their own. But the Syrian President is also mindful of the rise of a moderate Arab bloc whose members include Egypt, Jordan and the branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization that remains loyal to Chairman Yasser Arafat. This group, which is almost certain to gain the support of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is likely to become far more influential than Syria in dealing with the Palestinian problem. Such a development could in turn pose a serious challenge to the Assad regime, especially if it came at a time when so many Syrian troops were still tied down in Lebanon...
Last week, only days after an announcement that France would sell $4.1 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia, the Israelis reiterated their opposition to a Reagan Administration plan to give Jordan $220 million for training and equipping a special strike force that could be used in the event of an emergency in the region. Both the Saudis and the Jordanians say they want the arms for defense against other Muslim countries, but the Israelis regard any Arab arms buildup as a potential threat...
...Israelis last week had an opportunity to express their opposition directly to one particular deal: the proposed sale by West Germany of tanks and other weaponry to Saudi Arabia. When West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl arrived in Israel for a six-day state visit, he was greeted with several demonstrations protesting not only the arms sale but also the presence of a German leader on Israeli soil...
...private talks the two leaders discussed the region's problems, and particularly Israel's concern about the possible West German arms sale to Saudi Arabia...
Among Egypt's strongest supporters at Casablanca was Yasser Arafat, who demonstrated that, despite the adversities he has suffered during the past year, he has retained the backing of most Islamic states. Lebanon was scarcely mentioned, if only because delegates found it difficult to say anything constructive. Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, in calling again on the Israelis to withdraw from Lebanon, claimed to be "optimistic" about the ability of the Lebanese "to achieve national unity," but he said it without particular conviction. -By William E. Smith...