Israel may face difficulty in signing ban on land mines

JERUSALEM, Nov. 11 (JTA) – Israel plans to participate in a conference on banning land mines scheduled to take place next month in Ottawa. Foreign Minister David Levy confirmed the expected Israeli presence at the international conference while meeting Tuesday with his visiting Canadian counterpart, Lloyd Axworthy. More than 100 countries are expected at the to sign an international treaty banning the use of land mines at the confernce. But Israel’s disputes with its Arab neighbors will make it difficult for the Jewish state to sign on to the agreement, according to an Israeli Foreign Ministry official. Despite its support for the proposal, Israel would have “difficulty implementing the initiative because of our own problems along our borders,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Aviv Shir-On. During his visit to Israel, Axworthy again received assurances from Levy that Israeli intelligence agents would never again use Canadian passports while carrying out covert operations. Israeli-Canadian relations were severely strained after it was revealed that Mossad agents were carrying Canadian passports when they attempted in September to assassinate a Hamas official living in the Jordanian capital of Amman. The failed attempt brought Israeli-Jordanian relations to what was arguably their lowest point since the two countries signed their historic peace treaty in October 1994. Canada briefly recalled its ambassador to Israel in October until it received assurances in a communique from Levy saying that Israeli agents would not use Canadian passports again. “We had further discussions today where the matter was clarified further,” Axworthy told reporters. “We were assured that this will not happen again.” Levy said Israel had never intended to embroil Canada in the assassination attempt. “We have found a way to resolve this matter in a manner satisfying to both sides, and we certainly wish to see this matter behind us,” Levy said.