War With Israel Possible: Bashar
Agence France Presse
KUWAIT CITY, 9 October 2006 — Syrian President Bashar Assad has said that a war with archenemy Israel cannot be ruled out as long as a lasting peace in the Middle East is not achieved.
“In principle, we (always) expect that there will be an Israeli aggression at any time. We all know that Israel is militarily powerful and is backed directly by the United States,” Bashar said in an interview with Kuwait’s Al-Anbaa daily published yesterday.
“We can’t debate whether to be prepared or unprepared. We must remain always prepared,” Bashar said. The Syrian president said Israel had abandoned the Middle East peace process since Ariel Sharon came to power in 2001. “This means that there will be no peace in the foreseeable future. If there is no peace, naturally you should expect that war may come. The no-war, no-peace situation means there will either be peace or war,” the Syrian leader said.
Syria had been on alert for an Israeli attack during the Jewish state’s 34-day offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon which ended in mid-August.
Peace talks between Syria and Israel have been frozen since 2000, with Damascus demanding that Israel hand over the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since 1967.
“One must defend one’s country fiercely,” Bashar said, citing as an example Hezbollah’s “resistance” to the Israeli offensive launched on July 12 following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by the group.
A political adviser to Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel must take Bashar’s comments about the possibility of war seriously. Reserve Gen. Amos Gilad told army radio: “It is necessary to carefully study such menacing declarations.”
KUWAIT CITY, 9 October 2006 — Syrian President Bashar Assad has said that a war with archenemy Israel cannot be ruled out as long as a lasting peace in the Middle East is not achieved.
“In principle, we (always) expect that there will be an Israeli aggression at any time. We all know that Israel is militarily powerful and is backed directly by the United States,” Bashar said in an interview with Kuwait’s Al-Anbaa daily published yesterday.
“We can’t debate whether to be prepared or unprepared. We must remain always prepared,” Bashar said. The Syrian president said Israel had abandoned the Middle East peace process since Ariel Sharon came to power in 2001. “This means that there will be no peace in the foreseeable future. If there is no peace, naturally you should expect that war may come. The no-war, no-peace situation means there will either be peace or war,” the Syrian leader said.
Syria had been on alert for an Israeli attack during the Jewish state’s 34-day offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon which ended in mid-August.
Peace talks between Syria and Israel have been frozen since 2000, with Damascus demanding that Israel hand over the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since 1967.
“One must defend one’s country fiercely,” Bashar said, citing as an example Hezbollah’s “resistance” to the Israeli offensive launched on July 12 following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by the group.
A political adviser to Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel must take Bashar’s comments about the possibility of war seriously. Reserve Gen. Amos Gilad told army radio: “It is necessary to carefully study such menacing declarations.”
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 3:32 PM
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