Allawi in No Rush to Forge Ties With Israel

BEIRUT —  Baghdad will not make any moves to normalize relations with Israel before other Arab nations do so as part of a Mideast settlement, Iraq’s interim prime minister said Monday.

U.S.-backed Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, speaking at a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, also dismissed Arab news reports that Israelis had established a presence in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion.

“Future relations with Israel are determined by two issues: international resolutions and a just and comprehensive peace that has been adopted by Arab leaderships, including the Palestinian leadership. Iraq will not take any unilateral action on a settlement with Israel outside those two frameworks,” Allawi said.

He described as “absolutely false” Arab news reports that Israeli intelligence agents were operating out of Iraq.

“We regretfully hear reports in the Arab press that there are 10,000 Israelis and stories that Iraq is being used as a base for Israeli intelligence -- this is inaccurate and false,” Allawi said. “Iraq and its territory will not be a base for any action hostile to any Arab country.”

Arabs in their media and elsewhere have long speculated that the U.S. invaded Iraq to weaken a state seen as a threat to Israel and to allow Israel to make inroads into the Arab world. Toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had been a vocal opponent of Israel and had reportedly given money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

Allawi, who arrived Sunday as part of a tour of Arab nations, discussed security and economic issues with Hariri at a meeting earlier Monday. His talks in Lebanon also were to include a meeting with President Emile Lahoud and National Assembly Speaker Nabih Berri.