Word: syrians
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...Hussein was a diplomatic breakthrough. Relations between Syria and Jordan have been stormy since 1980, when the two countries broke over Jordan's clandestine support of the anti-Assad Muslim Brotherhood. Hostilities continued until last August, when Hussein unexpectedly agreed to pursue a rapprochement. Subsequent talks between Jordanian and Syrian officials produced travel and trade accords, as well as agreements to reject bilateral negotiations with Israel and to back a U.N.-sponsored international peace conference...
...improved relations with Assad to put pressure on Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, whose refusal to endorse U.N. resolutions stating Israel's right to exist has stalled the King's peace plan. Assad loathes Arafat and would prefer Hussein to support harder-line Syrian-backed P.L.O. rebels. According to another theory, a Jordanian-Syrian reconciliation might scuttle the U.S.-backed peace process altogether if Hussein were to embrace Assad's uncompromising position toward Israel...
...agreement seeks to redress the balance of power between Muslims and Maronite Christians, the traditionally dominant Maronites are reluctant to give up their privileges. Indeed, just days after the truce went into effect gunmen opened fire on the car of Assad Shaftari, a key Maronite participant in the Syrian-sponsored peace talks. Shaftari narrowly escaped. His supporters have accused Christians who back President Amin Gemayel of staging the attack. Gemayel, who has yet to endorse the treaty, flew to Damascus at week's end to discuss the pact with Assad. --By Jill Smolowe...
...confrontation over Libyan-supported terrorism continued last week, a variety of shocks and aftershocks rumbled through the Middle East. According to Lebanese military sources, Syrian gunners fired two SA-6 missiles at Israeli warplanes flying reconnaissance missions over the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. The missiles reportedly missed their targets because the Israeli planes managed to protect themselves by releasing deception balloons. Israel denied the reports, and there were indications that it may have already curtailed its flights in areas within range of the Syrian weapons...
There are no permanent military alliances in Lebanon, where ten years of religious and civil strife have left a variety of Christian and Muslim warlords in a stalemate for power. Late last month when the chiefs of the three most powerful militias signed a Syrian-sponsored peace agreement, it seemed that Lebanon was taking a small step toward ending the carnage that has already cost more than 100,000 lives. Syrian President Hafez Assad warned that he would not allow the peace pact to fail. But even Assad could not have foreseen the vicious warfare that erupted last week, pitting...