Courtesy of ISN News
The U.S. House of Representatives has given final approval to the Syria Sanctions Bill.
It aims at pressuring Damascus into ending its support for terror. The bill’s authors also say they want Syria to end its search for weapons of mass destruction.
The bill calls for a ban on any trade by U.S. companies from supplying Syria with materials for weapons development.
The President is now empowered to freeze Syrian assets, bar business investments in Syria and ban exports other than foods and medicines.
The U.S. is demanding Damascus end its active support for terror groups such as Hizbullah, desist from offering shelter to terrorists and their organizations and end their military occupation of Lebanon.
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Syria is on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism; the only one on the list that enjoys full diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Syria is also a recent holder of the chair of the United Nations Security Council.
Israeli premier Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei’ are scheduled to meet next week, according to Israeli officials.
Sharon says Israel may well implement goodwill measures on a unilateral basis.
He did not elaborate, but analysts are suggesting Israel may well move troops out of some Palestinian areas and offer humanitarian support within the next few days.
The political right in Israel says it is angered by Sharon’s decision to open talks with one of Yassir Arafat’s right-hand men.
However, there is widespread popular support in Israel for a resumption of peace talks.
Israel is expected to demand an end to terror attacks, while the Palestinians want an Israeli troop pullback to pre-September 2000 positions.
Qurei’ told a Norwegian TV channel on Thursday there could well be a serious peace deal within six months.