Report: Israel does not want to weaken Syrian President Assad - Haaretz

Last update - 22:45 22/03/2007

Report: Israel does not want to weaken Syrian President Assad

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel is not interested in weakening Syrian President Bashar Assad because it does not know whether his replacement would present superior diplomatic alternatives, French sources were quoted as saying in a report published Thursday by the London-based Al-Hayat daily.

The sources were also quoted as saying that Israel perceives Assad as weak, but is not interested in confronting Syria, out of fear that intervention would alter the political situation there.

According to the report, Israeli and French officials have carried out assessments recently of the situation in Syria and Lebanon. The sources said that Israel has complained to France that Hezbollah is rehabilitating its forces with the blessing of the Lebanese government.

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In response to these complaints, said the sources, France has insisted that the decision to replenish Hezbollah's capabilities is a matter of Syrian policy.

The French sources also stated that there are differing opinions amongst international authorities on the issue of Syria, adding that as the U.S. withdraws further away from Assad, Israel remains more interested in letting him remain in power, at least for the near future.

More on Syria from Haaretz

Assad confirms Syrians held secrets talks with Israelis

Report: Assad says expects little progress in peace talks in next two years

Peretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with Syria

U.S. ambassador: We won't stop Israel from talking to Syria

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1.	Aw come on.	11:35	\|	Colin Wright	22/03/07

2.	#1, dear colin wright	12:20	\|	VIPER	22/03/07

3.	Better The Devil You Know	12:41	\|	Dyinglikeflies	22/03/07

4.	Keeping Assad in power...	13:02	\|	Maureen Ann	22/03/07

5.	Assad is weak but plans are under way	13:59	\|	mehmet	22/03/07

6.	Israel does not know what it wants	14:59	\|	isratinian	22/03/07

7.	It would be best if Assad fell from power	15:38	\|	Sherman	22/03/07

8.	to Sherman, #7- No such animal	16:23	\|	Dyinglikeflies	22/03/07

9.	Asad, Democracy, ME	16:32	\|	Kevin	22/03/07

10.	A radical change	16:41	\|	Mark Lincoln	22/03/07

11.	It seems the Israelis have finally figured out that the local dic	16:49	\|	Apartheid	22/03/07

12.	lebanese voice	16:59	\|	christoph	22/03/07

13.	PS	17:42	\|	christoph	22/03/07

14.	Mehmet from Istanbul	18:34	\|	David Israel	22/03/07

15.	Maureen of Bathhurst as always...	18:38	\|	Akiva Patysh, Tzioni	22/03/07

16.	: Dyinglikeflies. is such a disgusting word!	18:41	\|	Akiva Patysh, Tzioni	22/03/07

17.	to No4 Maureen	19:13	\|	person	22/03/07

18.	Assad weak, but how weak??	19:23	\|	Voice of Reason	22/03/07

19.	Tricky	19:40	\|	tom s	22/03/07

20.	LEBANON	20:02	\|	NAD	22/03/07

21.	MAZAL TOV OLMERT	20:41	\|	zionist forever	22/03/07

22.	Iraq is an example of why Assad needs to stay in charge	20:57	\|	zionist forever	22/03/07

23.	sell the Sunnis and the Druze	22:44	\|	Tueni	22/03/07

24.	choose	23:01	\|	Tueni	22/03/07

25.	France is guilty of disobeying Resolution 1701	23:09	\|	Chick Corea	22/03/07

26.	25 Don`t those Frenchmen know that if the Israelis like a UN reso	00:28	\|	Apartheid	23/03/07

27.	#17 Person.	01:13	\|	Maureen Ann	23/03/07

28.	#25 Chick Corea	14:47	\|	Johnboy	23/03/07

29.	#17, PERSON, 3rd try	03:16	\|	VIPER	24/03/07