With strong support from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, a New York House member said Monday he would push a bill to sanction Syria unless it stops helping Hezbollah guerrillas and ends its military occupation of Lebanon.

The prime minister endorsed U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure on Syria in a 90-minute conversation in his Jerusalem office, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said in a telephone interview.

While Sharon appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood, he complained that Syria allows Hezbollah to "run wild" in Lebanon and does not feel the heat of U.S. diplomatic overtures, Engel said...

On another front, Engel said Sharon told him Israel could "do business" with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas but did not think Abbas had control of the security situation.

Engel said he informed Sharon that Israel has strong support in Congress to build a security fence to separate it from Palestinian-held areas, despite the Bush administration's reservations.

Sharon told Engel and two other Democratic members of the New York congressional delegation, Anthony D. Weiner and Gregory W. Meeks, that "the Palestinians cannot refuse to oppose terrorism and, at the same time, criticize Israel the fence." [...]

On Syria, Engel said he was certain a majority of the House and the Senate would support his legislation, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.

Engel said it would authorize President Bush to freeze Syria's assets in the United States, restrict trade with Syria and curb travel by Syrian officials to the United States unless Syria ended its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, halted aid to Hezbollah and withdrew its troops from Lebanon.

Engel said he did not push the legislation during the war in Iraq at the behest of the administration.

"Now is really the time to push it," Engel said. "And Sharon feels the same way. He feels pressure should be put back on Syria."

"This bill is a great opportunity for the administration," Engel said. "There are waivers giving the president options. It's a no-brainer to pass it."