THE THREE EU foreign ministers visiting the Middle East have expressed renewed optimism that a peace deal between Israel and Syria can be agreed. This follows a series of meetings in Damascus, Jerusalem and Gaza over the past two days.
The Israel Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, and the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, separately told the EU troika yesterday that they wanted a greater EU role in the Middle East peace process.
Mr Arafat said after a meeting in Gaza that there was now hope of agreement between Syria and Israel. "They are starting to talk about the details," he said.
Mr Peres indicated, however, that no real progress on the matter could be expected until after the Israeli general election due on May 28th.
The Minister of State, Mr Gay Mitchell, who was on the EU delegation, said "We are more optimistic now of real progress being made this year in the Syrian Israeli track of the peace process, perhaps during the Irish presidency of the EU.
"This would also have implications for peace in Lebanon. The EU will continue to assist politically and, economically with this process.
While Mr Arafat was upbeat about the prospect about an Israel Syria accord he pointed to problems in the implementation of the interim agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
He called on the EU to press Israel to implement fully the agreement, specifically the terms relating to the non construction of new Jewish settlements, and the right of Palestinians to move in and out of their areas.
The EU ministers were told Mr Arafat that the Israeli authorities were planning to build over 6,000 houses in East Jerusalem the part of the city Palestinians hope will ultimately become the capital of a Palestinian state.
In addition Mr Arafat said that. Gaza and the West Bank continued to be sealed off regularly by Israel. Mr Mitchell said last night that the EU felt it was essential for both sides to implement the internal agreement.
The quest of Mr Peres for a date to hold early Israeli elections hit a new snag yesterday when university officials objected to a timetable picked 10 mollify the country's religious parties.
Mr Peres said that further negotiations would be needed to set a date.
Universities had written to him pointing out that 130,000 student voters were to sit examinations on June 18th, which would be the obvious date for a possible run off in prime ministerial elections if June 4th were the chosen first round election date.