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Bashar Assad: Syria wants peace with Israel, not to see it destroyed. (Archive) Last update - 03:24 25/09/2006 Assad: I want peace with Israel, but failure may lead to war By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Reuters Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview published Sunday that he hopes to achieve peace with Israel, but cautioned that a Middle East deadlocked in conflict could end up in war. Asked what he thought of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to wiped off the map, Assad said Syria wanted peace with Israel, not to see it destroyed. "But my personal opinion, my hopes for peace, could one day change. And if this hope disappears, then war may really be the only solution," Assad told German magazine Der Spiegel. Advertisement In response to Assad's statement, the Prime Minister's Office reiterated Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's stance that "the conditions have not yet ripened" for negotiations with Syria, which he called the major instigator of terrorism in the region. Earlier Sunday, Meretz leader Yossi Beilin reportedly criticized Olmert for missing a genuine opportunity to engage in peace talks with the Syrians. Defense Minister Amir Peretz also commented on Assad's statement, saying "the State of Israel is prepared for any threat and will be prepared to respond to any provocation on Syria's part." Peretz also said that the Syrian president's militaristic statements are highly inconsistent with calls for peace. Peretz said if the Syrian president wants to prove he has true intentions for peace, he should stop backing (Palestinian terrorist) Khaled Meshal and halt arms shipments to Hezbollah. The defense minister said Israel aims for peace with its neighbors, whenever the conditions are right for it. Regarding Israel's recent war with Hezbollah, Assad said it would be impossible to prevent weapons from reaching the militant organization due to its strong public support. Enforcing an arms embargo against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon is one of the main tasks of a UN peacekeeping force which is assembling in Lebanon and along its coast. "As long as public support for Hezbollah is as high as it today... then this is 'mission impossible'. The majority sees resistance against Israel as legitimate. I advise the Europeans - don't waste your time. Get to the root of the problem." Relations between the United States and Syria have long been strained as Washington has designated Syria as a "state sponsor of terrorism" because of its support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militant groups. Beilin slams refusal to explore peace opportunity Army Radio on Sunday quoted Yossi Beilin as saying that the government's refusal to explore a reported overture by Syria represented "diplomatic dereliction of duty" and blindness on the part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Beilin was responding to news reports that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem had said "The war in Lebanon has created a genuine opportunity for peace and for solving the problems of the region." Beilin was also quoted as saying that Israel's refusal to examine repeated statements from Damascus represented diplomatic dereliction of duty. "If Olmert continues to tread the path of blindness and arrogance, this will lead us into another armed confrontation," Beilin was quoted as telling the radio. Mualem was quoted at the weekend as saying that although an opportunity had been created to deal with the Middle East conflict, he believed that the international community would fail to take advantage of the opportunity, as a result of Israeli pressure and American hegemony. "I believe that the opportunity will not be exploited and will wither, and the dangers in the area will increase," Mualem was quoted as saying. Mualem also reiterated Syria's opposition to the deployment of an international force on the Syrian-Lebanese border, saying that Damascus would oversee the frontier, long used as a route to channel arms to Hezbollah. U.S., EU policies brought Damascus attack In his interview, Assad also blamed the United States and its Middle East policies for a recent failed attack on the U.S. embassy in Damascus. Four Syrians tried to blow up the embassy on September 12, but the plot failed after Syrian guards killed three of the assailants in a shootout. The fourth man later died of his wounds. "This seems to have been the background of the attack, a reaction to America's policy in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan," Assad was quoted by Der Spiegel weekly as saying. Syria's 40-year-old president was asked why the United States should be considered at fault for an attack that Assad said appeared to have been carried out by Syrians. "Because they contribute to hopelessness here, to silencing dialogue between cultures," he said. Assad said data recovered from the computers of the militants who carried out the attacks on the U.S. embassy and information gathered in their environments indicated that they were isolated young men, Al Qaida sympathizers from the suburbs of Damascus who called Osama bin Laden "the lion of Islam". After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Syria and the United States intensified their cooperation on security issues and "together saved many American lives", Assad said. "Then the Iraq war emerged and America began to make many mistakes," he said. Assad said he had warned the United States that it would win the war in Iraq but would then sink into a quagmire. "It's turned out worse than I expected," he said Bookmark to del.icio.us   'We lost a great leader' Dignitaries honor the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the U.S. Congress. Gaza Trip Livni takes 70 ambassadors on a visit to the Gaza Strip as part of diplomatic campaign.   1.   Much as I dislike Bachar 13:05  |  Maral 24/09/06   2.   Result of policy or propaganda about policy? 13:31  |  Marathon Man 24/09/06   3.   Did the US expect roses? 13:55  |  Maxime 24/09/06   4.   Real Reasons of Terror 14:04  |  Roberto 24/09/06   5.   President Assad has touched the core reason 14:12  |  Linda 24/09/06   6.   Make peace with syria now 14:16  |  Adel 24/09/06   7.   Liberate Afghanistan and Iraqistan first 14:23  |  Snowman 24/09/06   8.   Assad blames US 14:35  |  Fred 24/09/06   9.   USA : Syria policy is to be blamed over lebanon war 14:38  |  Joseph E . 24/09/06   10.   Typical, blame others, for every ill 14:46  |  Shlomzion 24/09/06   11.   He just keeps shooting himselfin the foot 15:01  |  Niall 24/09/06   12.   Roses not only in Iraq but... 15:09  |  History 24/09/06   13.   Syria is serious 15:13  |  ron 24/09/06   14.   # 6 Adel , as always comprehending arab-dictators policy(s) 15:30  |  Joseph E . 24/09/06   15.   Assad`s remarks encourage more terrorism 16:06  |  Dave 24/09/06   16.   The whole interview 16:07  |  HA 24/09/06   17.   US must have threatened Syria like with Pakistan 16:10  |  Toufic 24/09/06   18.   To Roberto 16:23  |  Cristina 24/09/06   19.   So USA and Israel dissapears and no more terrorism... 16:29  |  Cristina 24/09/06   20.   to # 3 16:36  |  Alex 24/09/06   21.   Syria preparing joint assault with Iran 16:47  |  Israeli 24/09/06   22.   Assad will never make peace before bringing a military victory 16:52  |  Israeli 24/09/06   23.   #11 Niall U R Fiction Dreamy Man 17:08  |  Simon 24/09/06   24.   Quagmire 17:17  |  Ron 24/09/06   25.   maral first suicide attack in iraq since 17:32  |  flavius josephus 24/09/06   26.   Beilin is a fool, who just wants to surrender Golan. 17:56  |  Joel Meyers 24/09/06   27.   # 7 Snowman 18:10  |  Leo 24/09/06   28.   See through Assad 18:27  |  Miguel 24/09/06   29.   #26 Joel Meyers 18:45  |  Henry 24/09/06   30.   Roberto Invading Afghanistan? 18:47  |  Sam The Sham 24/09/06   31.   If It Weren`t For Iran Assad Would Be Eating Grubs! 18:59  |  Sam The Sham 24/09/06   32.   Beating the war drums 19:06  |  ilana 24/09/06   33.   Israel #21 Iran`s nuclear umbrella? 20:19  |  Stanley 24/09/06   34.   how embarrassing - bashar can`t control his country 20:37  |  mike 24/09/06   35.   peace with syria 20:39  |  king k 24/09/06   36.   33: Stanley, try to read, it would help 20:50  |  David Teich 24/09/06   37.   The poor ignorant daddy`s boy needs a lesson in logic 20:52  |  David Teich 24/09/06   38.   You mean Israel will have to take Quneitra back? 20:53  |  Yaakov K. 24/09/06   39.   Assad`s "peace" means "Give me back the Golan 20:55  |  Yaakov K. 24/09/06   40.   to # 26given land with agreement is different that taken by force 21:26  |  Simon Mohammed 24/09/06   41.   Results of Olmert and IDF`s Incompetence 21:31  |  Tod Zuckerman 24/09/06   42.   Arab logic 21:36  |  rich 24/09/06   43.   Iran probably has a 2-tier program 21:39  |  Israeli 24/09/06   44.   Memories, "sweet" memories... 21:47  |  Haham me Bat Yam 24/09/06   45.   # 26 Joil, UR mom will weep tears, Golan Liberated 21:51  |  Pepper 24/09/06   46.   Assad wanting peace 22:27  |  ruth matthews 24/09/06   47.   Belins true loyalty is to the arabs 22:32  |  zionist forever 24/09/06   48.   The sign is on the wall 22:34  |  Joseph E . 24/09/06   49.   peace with israel = politcal suicide for assad 22:45  |  zionist forever 24/09/06   50.   which side of Assad`s mouth? 22:48  |  Mike 24/09/06   51.   #31 Without Western support Israel would be.. 23:10  |  Amused 24/09/06   52.   Yossi Beilin has done enough damage to Israel! 23:11  |  Avi 24/09/06   53.   # 42 Rich , What a blast . Hre is one The post is clear 23:11  |  Joseph E . 24/09/06   54.   SYRIA SHOULD BEWARE 23:12  |  dale 24/09/06   55.   THIS MAY BE IT! 23:20  |  Sam The Sham 24/09/06   56.   Concentrate on the struggle against the Yarmukloid Israelis 23:42  |  Candorin Secrett 24/09/06   57.   Assad: I want peace with Israel, but failure may lead to war 23:49  |  Qamrul Khanson 24/09/06   58.   Beilin wants peace . 23:52  |  Joseph E . 24/09/06   59.   is Assad Jr. preparing for 5M "victory rally" in flat Damascus ? 23:59  |  micha 24/09/06   60.   ASSAD IS RIGHT, SOMEWHAT!!! 00:06  |  ALEX 25/09/06   61.   a rather suggestive fotograph 00:19  |  Unknown 25/09/06   62.   PEACE WITH SYRIA 00:26  |  Bert 25/09/06   63.   Beilin 00:32  |  Tunsi 25/09/06   64.   Israel want peaec but Syrian not ripe of it 00:35  |  gus 25/09/06   65.   # 4 "Reasons" 00:44  |  Don 25/09/06   66.   Shlomzion, we do not want kill Jews. Not true 00:49  |  gus 25/09/06   67.   Niall, damn if he defend the embassy and damn if he does not 00:56  |  Lebanese citizen 25/09/06   68.   Israel Doesnt Want Peace 00:57  |  Paulo 25/09/06   69.   Zionest fever, the opposite is the Truth. 01:04  |  gus 25/09/06   70.   Submit or we will attack! 01:12  |  David 25/09/06   71.   False peace.... 01:15  |  Blogowitz 25/09/06   72.   Mike, he spoke the Truth. even him cannot stop it 01:52  |  Lebanese citizen 25/09/06   73.   Gus , your logic would have been convincing 02:03  |  Joseph E . 25/09/06   74.   Cannot believe talkback response by some 02:44  |  wally 25/09/06   75.   Joseph E, the Golan hights are coming back 03:08  |  gus 25/09/06   76.   PEACE WITH SYRIA IS A MIRAGE. 03:23  |  ELIAS 25/09/06   77.   peace means give me the Golan 03:57  |  peter 25/09/06   78.   this attack on embassy.... 04:10  |  Maxim 25/09/06   79.   Assad`s advice is good 04:11  |  Brigitte Meier 25/09/06   80.   sweet gus and his ramblings 04:14  |  peter 25/09/06   81.   #46 to Ruth 04:22  |  Saulo 25/09/06   82.   #62 to Paulo 04:30  |  Saulo 25/09/06   83.   Syrian "Logic" 05:21  |  Martin 25/09/06   84.   what war, Pres. Assad Jr. , aren`t you a Doctor of Optometry ? 05:47  |  micha 25/09/06   85.   How can we want democracy in the middle east and not engage 05:48  |  George 25/09/06   86.   bert , golan, california, arizona,New Mexico 05:49  |  charro 25/09/06   87.   #56 - the Golon Heights will be the basis 05:52  |  George 25/09/06   88.   #36 David Teich on Iran`s nukes 06:07  |  Stanley 25/09/06   89.   Peace with Syria and others 06:30  |  carl 25/09/06   90.   micha 07:18  |  Lebanese citizen 25/09/06   91.   Dear Peter. Saudi plan preserve what you wrote. 07:28  |  gus 25/09/06   92.   68: Wally, denial `aint a river to the West of here 07:53  |  David Teich 25/09/06   93.   TRUE DEFINITION OF PEACE 08:18  |  CHAIYAH HOD-ISHAI 25/09/06   94.   TRUE DEFINITION OF PEACE 08:19  |  CHAIYAH HOD-ISHAI 25/09/06   95.   TRUE DEFINITION OF PEACE 08:20  |  CHAIYAH HOD-ISHAI 25/09/06   96.   To Hannah, if she is still around 12:39  |  Shlomzion 25/09/06   97.   peace for ever 08:41  |  peter 26/09/06   98.   Syria and Israel 01:02  |  Steve 04/04/07   99.   No peace with Syria worths the Golan Heights 22:29  |  Leandro Guerra 14/02/08

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