Herzog Speaks

Syria successfully diverted world attention to this month's Middle East debate in the Security Council, while pursuing imperialistic aims in Lebanon, Chaim Herzog, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations told an audience of 200 in the Science Center yesterday.

Speaking to the University Affiliated Women for Israel, Herzog said that Syria is exploiting the Palestine issue to enhance its own position in the Arab world at Egypt's expense.

Syria's aim is to eliminate the concept of negotiation in the Middle East, that "is working out extremely well so far," so that it can dictate a settlement to Israel, Herzog said.

Herzog said Israel's only answer to the Syrian strategy is to maintain Israeli insistence on negotiations and to avoid embarrassing Egypt as Egypt moves towards accomodation.

"We will only succeed in doing that out of strength," Herzog said.