Israel-Turkey-Jordan "axis" stirs debate

       Reuters diplomatic editor Paul Taylor states "To critics, it is a military axis forged to dominate the Middle East. To supporters, it es a partnership of like-minded democracies for peace and prosperity in a though neighborhood" in his commentary on the relations between Turkey, Israel and Jordan. The London conference on "Strategic Perspectives in the Middle East", organized by the Britain Israel Public Affairs Centr, will do nothing to calm Syrian fears of encirclement or Egyptian concerns at a new regional alignment says Mr. Taylor in his article. Senior Israeli defence official David Ivry, a former air force commander, painted a gloomy outlook for a Middle East mired in radicalism, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Our Israel Ambassador Barlas Ozener on the other hand asked "What can we do to convince our Arab brothers that what they are seeing is not an alliance?" Israel and Turkey shared a common interest in containing Palestinian nationalism and Moslem radicalism said Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University.Mr. Inbar said "All three are pro-Western, interested in the United States influence and suspicionus of Russian attempts to retirn to the region. All three understand the Middle East rules of gami, including the use of force and deterrence."