Senior U.S. envoy Dennis Ross will go to Syria and other Mideast countries next week to gauge prospects for a new round of peace talks under Israel’s tough new government.

Ross will hold talks in Israel, Jordan, Syria and Egypt, as well as with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, administration and diplomatic sources said Wednesday. He leaves Sunday.

The survey trip follows talks that Israel’s new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, held in Washington last week with President Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher.