Will Syria Come To Netanyahu's Aid?

There has been some informal contacts between Israeli and Syrian officials in Academic meetings in Texas, while Prime Minister Netanyahu is considering resuming talks with Damascus to divert pressure on him to move the stagnant peace with the Palestinians Syria-Israel.htm
See also other news about Syria's military links with Russia and internal politics Syria.htm

June 98 Updates on the Palestinian Israel peace moves: peaceprocess.htm

May 98 British Prime Minister Tony Blair's first attempt in the region Blair.htm

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's health is a cause for concern Arafat.htm
Israel hopes to revive a once lucrative military trade with China IsraelChina.htm

Israel is in trouble with the european commission over violating trade agreement and deliberately harming Palestinian trade Israel-EU.htm .

Reports that Israel is getting Iran to spy on Afghanistan Israel-Afghanistan.htm

The Persian Gulf:
The trial of the mayor of  Teheran is seen as another indication of internal power struggle as the hardliners forced a showdown with President Khatami over his fence mending efforts with the west iran.htm . majlis.htm

President Khatami is reported to have gently diverted the students from chanting the Iranian popular slogan '' death to America,'' during a speech at Teheran university Khatami.htm  Western diplomats point at power struggle inside Iran iransec.htm.

Signs of  an active Iranian diplomacy of rapprochement in the region Iran-diplomacy.htm, which starts with Iraq iran-iraq.htm.

The Arabs woo Iran as they fear a western deal with Khatami to reach for the oil and gas of the Caspian basin might bypass them.  GulfMay98.htm
An Iranian academic threaten to set himself on fire outside the UN headquarters in Paris in to protest against the continues violation of basic human rights by the clerics yazdi.htm.

News from Arabia: Arabia.htm;
Saudi Arabia reviewing arms spending, and deals with Yemen which has given up on the idea of joining the GCC, while trouble looms in Kuwait parliament.
 
Terrorism:
The US navy instructed service men to avoid going ashore in Arabia and advised Americans to be on alert while travelling in the region. There is a new anti American threats from an old ally of the US who is currently based in Afghanistan Laden.htm

United Nations/Iraq:
UN Chief weapons inspector Richard Butler is back in Iraq to give them a ' a map of the way out of sanctions.' The newspapers Babbel, edited by Saddam's son published an editorial saying '' time to cut the tongue of that dog'' meaning Butler.
It was the row over inspecting Saddam's palaces, which triggered this crisis PALACES.htm
There are some highlights from the Arab Press during the Iraqi UN crisis press.htm