JERUSALEM : Trolling for Peace

Israel is hoping for a breakthrough in peace talks with Syria during this week’s Mideast shuttle by U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher. But the American side is trying to dampen expectations of any dramatic developments.

During the first stop on his mission in Cairo on Monday, Christopher did warn that “decision time is rapidly approaching” if the parties to the 21-month-old Middle East peace process are to meet his informal deadline of notable progress by year end.

The focus shifted once more to Syria after President Hafez Assad was credited with playing a key role in reaching an agreement that ended a week-old flare-up of Arab-Israeli violence on the Lebanese border.

In addition to Israel and Syria, Christopher will also be visiting Jordan and talking to Palestinian representatives.