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Last update - 00:00 09/11/2008
VIDEO / Syria President: Israel is not genuine about peace
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: Syria, Israel news 

Syrian President Bashar Assad accused Israel of working toward peace with its Arab neighbors for the sake of internal political gain alone, calling the country's peace efforts "not genuine."

"Until now, we've seen the peace slogans in use in the internal political game in Israel, and as part of Israel's maneuvering spin on its foreign policy," Assad told the opening session of a meeting of Arab parliamentarians in Damascus on Sunday.

The Syrian leader called on Israel to clarify its outlook on peace among nations, and accused its neighbor of professing to want peace as a series of tactical moves, rather than a strategy.
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Syria and Israel recently held four rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Turkey. But the talks made no significant headway, and Syria said a fifth round was postponed at Israel's request.

Assad emphasized that Syria will continue to work toward achieving peace in the region. However, he said that his country will not relinquish any of its rights, and will not offer any goodwill gestures to indicate to Israel that it is interested in peace, as Israel has demanded. "They are the ones occupying our land, attacking us and uprooting millions of our people," Assad said.

"The clear truth is that peace is not a top priority for the Israelis," Assad went on to say. "Israel cares about its own security in the narrowest sense, but it will not achieve its own security in any other way but at the expense of the rights and security of the Arabs."

In reference to the indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, Assad commented that the existence of the talks does not prevent Syria from evaluating reality correctly. "Israel hasn't removed from its agenda the concept of attack. What causes this is Israel's fear of peace," he said.

Assad also criticized a proposed American-Iraqi security pact that would keep U.S. troops in Iraq for three more years.

He said that American troops contribute to regional instability and should withdraw from Iraq.

Assad told the group of parliamentarians that a recent American raid inside Syria near its border with Iraq is confirmation that the U.S. will use Iraq as a base to attack its neighbors.

Iraq has asked the U.S. for an explicit ban in the pact on the use of Iraqi soil for attacks against the country's neighbors. The U.S. has replied to the request, but the details are not known.

U.S. officials say the Syria raid targeted a top al-Qaida in Iraq figure. Syria says it killed eight civilians.
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  1.   Israel has peace with its neighbors 12:18  |  Dani 09/11/08
  2.   No ! to peace at any price. 12:23  |  Jean Van Daem 09/11/08
  3.   So? 12:31  |  Khaled 09/11/08
  4.   Syria Must Recognize Israel And ... 12:34  |  Khaled 09/11/08
  5.   Is Syria genuine about peace? 13:02  |  El_Justiciero 09/11/08
  6.   `to take without giving` 13:04  |  samos 09/11/08
  7.   Something for nothing 13:25  |  David LG 09/11/08
  8.   ramos #6 13:29  |  michael 09/11/08
  9.   The political prostitutes of Israel are open for business 13:49  |  Simon 09/11/08
  10.   Bored Of This Subject ! 13:50  |  Phil 09/11/08
  11.   the zio-states future depends on its ability 14:17  |  to get along 09/11/08
  12.   assad`s definition of peace is the golan PIECE to murder israelis 14:29  |  glenna 09/11/08
  13.   what kind of peace does isreal have? 14:37  |  notice 09/11/08
  14.   glenna you have enough land w/o the golan or 14:40  |  Palestine 09/11/08
  15.   Syrian+Pal diplomacy-Hand over 1967 borders +don`t bother us 14:41  |  Sam 09/11/08
  16.   so many excuses not to have peace 14:42  |  soooo 09/11/08
  17.   oh and i forgot!! livni dancing w/abbas!! 15:00  |  peace w/PA 09/11/08
  18.   no 14 no such country callled Palestine 15:03  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  19.   Palestinias 15:12  |  Pamela 09/11/08
  20.   Like your father , you are not serious 15:56  |  Habib 09/11/08
  21.   Oh, shut up - people have heard enough of your BS 15:59  |  (wanna) Ralph 09/11/08
  22.   Palestine-You were disputing territory BEFORE the preemtive war 16:10  |  Sam 09/11/08
  23.   21 Arab States and one tiny little Israel 16:14  |  Avi 09/11/08
  24.   so assad is right: zio`s dont want peace 16:22  |  well fine then 09/11/08
  25.   ahh poor little tiny avi 16:26  |  you make me cry 09/11/08
  26.   future not to bright either Avi 16:27  |  one BIG arab state 09/11/08
  27.   i read somewhere that when the khazars 16:33  |  converted 09/11/08
  28.   this is no real estate dispute - never has been 17:05  |  Avi 09/11/08
  29.   Syria: Can`t Be Very Serious 17:14  |  Tex 09/11/08
  30.   Haaretz: Converted #27 Posting Jihadi Wetdreams 17:19  |  Tex 09/11/08
  31.   White Power Losers Infesting Israeli Websites 17:21  |  Tex 09/11/08
  32.   I would never allow myself in your position avi 17:47  |  dead end 09/11/08
  33.   Tex he rules because the syrianns don`t mind 17:54  |  he is aliwait 09/11/08
  34.   whatever you say tex 17:55  |  reality is different 09/11/08
  35.   Israel can`t maintain this status quo 18:00  |  Ali 09/11/08
  36.   Syria, YOU`RE the one the wants the land, so... 18:10  |  McQueen 09/11/08
  37.   #14:Palestine that`s what happens when yout brought up 18:22  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 09/11/08
  38.   I think Bugs Bunny said it best: "What A Maroon!" 18:28  |  B`Galil 09/11/08
  39.   Israel is not genuine about peace? Duh! 18:40  |  Natallie Durson 09/11/08
  40.   Assad living in Bizaro World 18:58  |  Jacob Blues 09/11/08
  41.   Assad is obviously correct... 19:13  |  BBSNews 09/11/08
  42.   Ali- Israel CAN maintain the status quo. Just 5 more years of it 19:21  |  Mark 09/11/08
  43.   ASSAD`S MENDACITY IS BREATHTAKING 20:22  |  Ian 09/11/08
  44.   #39:Natalie and love of excuses. 20:39  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 09/11/08
  45.   mr. holiday i am an american 21:06  |  my kin came over on 09/11/08
  46.   What Do You Have In Trade Bashar? 21:30  |  Yosemite 09/11/08
  47.   #45: Wow. You`re a Puritan. 21:30  |  Tex 09/11/08
  48.   Know How To Make A Syrian Sing Like A Canary? 21:35  |  Yosemite 09/11/08
  49.   Everyone is posturing 21:35  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/08
  50.   well tex i am tempted to list all the places you and kin 21:36  |  have been expelled 09/11/08
  51.   Mark you have been tryiing for over 60 yrs to 21:43  |  drive the 09/11/08
  52.   How Can You Tell If A Syrian Is Telling The Truth? 22:26  |  Yosemite 09/11/08
  53.   Khaled, you are either a jew or a druze 22:27  |  northern neighbor 09/11/08
  54.   Assad: Only peaceful missiles and artillery for the Golan 23:17  |  Ari 09/11/08
  55.   Peace with Syria 23:32  |  Saadeh 09/11/08
  56.   #51, There Will Be 2 Nations 23:34  |  Gary 09/11/08
  57.   Cheap propaganda by a pathetic despicable dictator 00:37  |  tristan 10/11/08
  58.   Assad does not want peace. 02:17  |  US CITIZEN 10/11/08
  59.   Let Me See 04:41  |  Ron 10/11/08
  60.   Bringing up the rear. 04:56  |  Jim 10/11/08
  61.   Ari, then and now 05:56  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/08
  62.   Message to Iraq: Don`t ask!, Demand! 06:56  |  Jim 10/11/08
  63.   #1 About Dani 07:42  |  Jim 10/11/08
  64.   #18 Pamela 09:46  |  Jim 10/11/08
  65.   Israel occupying syria land is a myth 16:22  |  scott 10/11/08
  66.   assad just can`t wait to get his hands on the golan;he will keep 06:21  |  glenna 12/11/08
  67.   US Diplomatic Faux Pas 01:44  |  Astrid Bullen 05/03/09
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