Monday, Feb. 21, 1994

Inside Jerusalem

ISRAEL: SYRIANS FIRST, PALESTINIANS LATER

Israeli Prime Minister yitzhak rabin is in no hurry to finalize negotiations with the Palestinians. That's because he wants a Syrian deal first, says one of Rabin's Cabinet ministers. Rabin has told his inner Cabinet that the U.S. is working to create a loose alliance of countries in the Middle East to counterbalance Iran and Iraq. Thus, normalized relations between Israel and Syria are of primary importance. Says the source: "Rabin will give the entire Golan Heights back to the Syrians. As difficult as it is, he's made up his mind to do it."