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London: The political storm in Washington over North Korea's alleged assistance for a nuclear reactor in eastern Syria may be welcomed by Arab states that favour more intense international pressure on Damascus, but the Arab public will greet the claims with scepticism.
Following the intelligence fiasco in Iraq, few people in the region believe what America says, particularly when it has anything to do with Israel, and while the latest allegations may be aimed at North Korea their impact will be to fuel speculation about a possible US or Israeli strike on targets associated with Syria or Iran.
Peace moves
Perhaps to quell such theories, top Syrian officials this week said Israel was seeking peace with Damascus, even though it had bombed the alleged nuclear site last September. On Thursday President Bashar Al Assad said Turkish mediation had produced an Israeli offer to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
"What's being said about North Korea and Syria is absolutely ridiculous," said Mohammad Al Saeed Said, editor of Egypt's Al Badeel newspaper.
"[The United States] wants to win public opinion and warn of a possible attack on Iran, on Hezbollah and maybe on Syria."
When Israel bombed the site last year, no protest emerged from leading Arab countries, suggesting they were relieved by the move. Syria's relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt have deteriorated rapidly because of assumed interference by Damascus in Lebanon and the alignment of its policies with their rival, Iran.
Privately, Arab officials dismissed Syrian claims the site was a former military facility, with some suggesting it was used for military co-operation between Syria and Iran. But Arab commentators protested, seeing the bombing as another example of Israel acting outside international law.
People close to the Syrian regime suspect the Bush administration will not leave office without dealing a blow to Syria, Iran and their allies. "Syria wants to see through this US administration without being attacked," said Alastair Crooke, head of the Conflicts Forum.
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