Syria may help if Gaza offensive ends

July 3, 2006

Damascus: Syria will lean on Hamas to find a solution to a crisis sparked by the capture of an Israeli soldier only if Israel stops its attacks on Gaza, Syrian and Palestinian politicians said on Sunday.

The government told visiting Arab officials that it will not put pressure on Hamas' exiled leadership to help free the soldier as long as Israeli raids on civilian and military targets in Gaza continue, they said.

"Syria will not move unless the Israelis stop their aggression," said Sulaiman Haddad, a member of parliament's Foreign Relations Committee.

"Syria might only then play a role," said Haddad, who is a member of the ruling Baath Party.

Meanwhile, about 2,000 Palestinians protested the Israeli military offensive in Gaza on Sunday.

The protesters set fire to an Israeli flag and shouted "Death to Israel" as they marched in Lebanon's largest refugee camp in Ein Al Hilweh.

Children, some in military uniforms, women and men took part.

Link:

Solution to kidnapping crisis depends on Syria: Israeli PM