SYRIA AND EGYPT RESUME TIES.

Rachamim, Shaul · 1989

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, speaking in Tel-Aviv this evening warned Israel not to forget that Syria and Egypt had done to Israel in the past. His com¬ments followed the announcement of renewed ties between Syria and Egypt after Syria broke with Egypt following the signing of the Israel - Egypt peace treaty. The Prime Minister was addressing defence reporters. He told them that Syrian hostility remained and they (the Syrians) continue to prepare for war. He con¬tinued that we should not be swept into a sea of euphoria, because of the dram¬atic changes in Eastern Europe, although Mr. Shamir hoped that these countries that formally backed Israel's enemies wll now abandon that particular dogma. Syria allocates about 30% of its budget to defence, even though it is beset with serious economic difficulties. It is these economic difficulties that prevent Syria reaching strategic parity with Israel. Photo shows: The picture shows Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir addressing defence correspond¬ents at Beit Jabotinski in Tel-Aviv. Jabotinski's portrait hangs above Mr. Shamir's head.