World Notes MIDDLE EAST

Syria led the Arab chorus of condemnation when Egypt began peace negotiations with Israel, breaking off diplomatic relations shortly after Anwar Sadat's visit to Jerusalem in 1977, two years before the Egyptian- Israeli peace treaty was signed. And Syria remained the most stubborn holdout until last week, when Damascus and Cairo announced that the two countries would resume relations after a twelve-year hiatus. The restored ties will be celebrated sometime in January at a meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Hafez Assad. One possibly helpful result of their detente: a moderation in Syrian opposition to current Middle East peace initiatives.

Syria thus becomes the next to last of the 17 Arab countries to welcome Egypt back into the fold. In recent months, Assad has felt increasingly isolated, especially after the Soviet Union served notice that it would no longer support his aim of strategic parity with Israel. Now only Libya lacks diplomatic relations with Egypt, but even Tripoli is making an attempt to smooth its dealings with Cairo: last October Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi paid his first visit to Egypt in 16 years to meet with Mubarak. By all accounts the session was businesslike but amicable.