| The death of Yasser Arafat and the emergence of Egypt as a peace broker between Israel and the Palestinians has prompted Syria to drop its longtime antagonism toward Mr. Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization. The shift was on display last week when Syria welcomed PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and the first official Palestinian delegation to visit Syria since 1996. They met President Bashar Assad, Prime Minister Naji Otri and leaders of Palestinian militant groups based in Damascus. "Syria fears that they will be alone while the Egyptians lead the Palestinians to peace and a homeland," said Palestinian columnist and activist Gaby el-Jammal. "This is why they are desperate to embrace the new PLO leadership and to enter into talks with the Israelis as well," he said. |