Senior Arab officials tell Israel that Syria is not planning to attack - Haaretz

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Mon., August 20, 2007 Elul 6, 5767

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Last update - 12:14 19/08/2007

Senior Arab officials tell Israel that Syria is not planning to attack

By Amos Harel, Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents

Two friendly Arab countries have told Israel that Syria is not planning to attack in the coming months. The messages were relayed by senior-level officials and are based in part on talks with the officials' Syrian counterparts.

This is part of a broader effort by moderate Arab states to contain the tension emerging between Jerusalem and Damascus.

The officials say the Syrian military preparations are defensive, and are a "mirror image" of similar Israeli movements in the Golan Heights.

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Meanwhile, Syria has received 10 batteries of advanced anti-aircraft missiles, Russian sources say. This is the first in a series of shipments that are to include 36 such batteries.

The anti-aircraft missiles are part of a $900 million arms deal, Moscow's Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported Friday, citing Russian military industry sources.

Two months ago, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that the deal included a total of 50 batteries, and that 10 of these were meant for Iran.

Syria has denied that the deal is connected to Iran.

The Israeli defense establishment is closely following the Syrian rearmament because of the implications it holds for the Lebanese front.

The missile system in question, Pantsyr-S1 (NATO code-name SA-22), carries short range anti-aircraft weapons that can be mounted on vehicles. Israeli defense officials are concerned that such missiles will be transferred to Hezbollah, which could launch them via small, difficult to detect squads.

In addition to being a close-in air defense system designed to defend ground installations against a variety of weapons, including aircraft, helicopters, missiles and precision-guided munitions, it can also engage light-armored ground targets.

Pantsyr-S1 carries 12 surface-to-air missiles on launchers with a target acquisition radar with detection ranges of 30 kilometers. This radar tracks both targets and the surface-to-air missile while in flight. Maximum engagement rate is 12 targets a minute, according to the manufacturer, KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula, Russia.

Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Syria has been carrying out a rapid rearmament program. In addition to anti-aircraft weapons, it has focused on advanced anti-tank missiles like those Hezbollah used against Israeli armor during the war.

During his visit to Jerusalem last week, U.S. Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns described Syria as a country that supports terrorism.

He was particularly scathing regarding the ties between Syria and Iran. "We are making efforts to isolate Iran, and Syria is one of the few countries that are an obstacle to this and who are working in the opposite direction," he said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki is expected to visit neighboring Syria tomorrow to discuss "security and political issues," official government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh told Iraqi state television Saturday. No further details were disclosed by al-Dabagh.

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1.	Nuri al-Maliki, to Syria as to Iran?	03:44	\|	Akiva Patysh	19/08/07

2.	Such A Relief	03:52	\|	Yoram	19/08/07

3.	if you trust/believe this, have i bridge for sale just for you	04:03	\|	ralph	19/08/07

4.	Dose Syria has stomach to attack Israel?	04:18	\|	e.m	19/08/07

5.	And Syria wants to use these against....	04:23	\|	Nechama	19/08/07

6.	You go Nuri !	04:28	\|	David James Vickery	19/08/07

7.	Just how good is the Russian stuff asks NATO RIGHT ???	04:52	\|	M. Segal	19/08/07

8.	much bigger worries than Israel	04:53	\|	peter	19/08/07

9.	Like Duh!	05:11	\|	Mark Lincoln	19/08/07

10.	#5, necham, a little info for you	05:12	\|	VIPER	19/08/07

11.	"FRIENDLY ARAB COUNTRIES".... that`s an OXYMORON!	05:18	\|	amir	19/08/07

12.	Israeli Army in Damascus soon.	05:43	\|	rucha	19/08/07

13.	Syria not Planning to Attack Israel??	05:45	\|	David	19/08/07

14.	to Nechama	05:48	\|	US Arab	19/08/07

15.	to nr 4 from a Syrian	06:12	\|	Sami	19/08/07

16.	Russian arms to Syria	06:46	\|	Doleh	19/08/07

17.	"Arab states to Israel: Syria not planning attack "	06:51	\|	bat yam	19/08/07

18.	Russia = Evil Empire	07:02	\|	Ronald	19/08/07

19.	same old russian anti semitisim-cold war 2	07:11	\|	steve	19/08/07

20.	Here We Go again....	07:43	\|	RH	19/08/07

21.	ISRAEL IS PLANNING A WAR AGAINST IRAN	07:44	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

22.	# 1, AKIVA PATYSH (TZIONI)	08:04	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

23.	Israel	08:06	\|	Hunter	19/08/07

24.	VIPER.It is the Army of Allah,their proxies,that are the problem	08:13	\|	PETER.SM	19/08/07

25.	indrajaya."ISRAEL PLANNING--" does Israel share plans with you?	08:16	\|	PETER SM	19/08/07

26.	DJVICKERY"Arab unity" like Shiite and Sunni??	08:21	\|	PETER.SM	19/08/07

27.	second lebanon war	09:38	\|	larry	19/08/07

28.	Damascus and Lebanon	09:48	\|	Steve	19/08/07

29.	Syria not planning to attack........	10:04	\|	Roxy	19/08/07

30.	AND HOW MANY LIES HAS AFLY?/	10:06	\|	paul harris	19/08/07

31.	# 21 21 Fake Indrajaya	10:13	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

32.	#30 Indy	10:57	\|	D	19/08/07

33.	To Indrajaya from the democratic state of Indonesia	10:59	\|	dovale	19/08/07

34.	# 25, PETER SM	11:36	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

35.	Enemies United	11:52	\|	An Arab Neighbor	19/08/07

36.	Syria attacking Israel??? It Must be a Joke	12:54	\|	Ronnie Wolman	19/08/07

37.	# 31, FAKE INDRAJAYA ALERT	13:04	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

38.	US Arab & Viper	13:55	\|	Nechama	19/08/07

39.	MORE LIES ! THEY SEEK WITH ALL THERE SOUL TO DRSTROY	14:39	\|	ILSupporter	19/08/07

40.	indrajaya.Not your private conspiracy theory, facts please!	14:44	\|	PETER SM	19/08/07

41.	# 33, DOVALE	14:44	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

42.	#20 RH	15:13	\|	Chris Linthwaite	19/08/07

43.	#38 Nechama	15:17	\|	Chris Linthwaite	19/08/07

44.	# 40, PETER, SM	15:28	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

45.	"Two friendly arab countries"	15:29	\|	Uzziel	19/08/07

46.	1967 - Israeli Provocation	15:30	\|	Double Click	19/08/07

47.	What did they say pre-Yom Kippor attack?	15:46	\|	r	19/08/07

48.	Nothing quite like a little war talk to lift the spirits.	15:51	\|	Labhras	19/08/07

49.	Indrajaya these fake notices are a bore	15:51	\|	yawn	19/08/07

50.	Ronnie Wolman #36	16:08	\|	GABE1	19/08/07

51.	peter of Montreal	16:09	\|	GABE1	19/08/07

52.	ever same game	16:13	\|	Axel	19/08/07

53.	indrajaya of jakarta @22	16:14	\|	Akiva Patysh, tzioni	19/08/07

54.	WHERE IS TZFONIT/BRACHA WHEN NEEDED	16:14	\|	GABE!	19/08/07

55.	Ronnie Wolman, good morning.!	16:18	\|	Akiva Patysh	19/08/07

56.	Quiet for the next few months	16:19	\|	Tosefta	19/08/07

57.	Quiet for the next few months	16:21	\|	Tosefta	19/08/07

58.	An Arab Neighbor # 35 The Axis Of Jihad	16:37	\|	Jeff Northridge	19/08/07

59.	An Arab Neighbour	16:41	\|	rich	19/08/07

60.	An Arab Neighbour	16:42	\|	rich	19/08/07

61.	Gabe: What is beshert	16:58	\|	Ronnie Wolman	19/08/07

62.	Gabe: What is beshert	16:58	\|	Ronnie Wolman	19/08/07

63.	Ronnie Wolman-Done Deal	17:09	\|	GABE1	19/08/07

64.	to Akiva # 53	17:11	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

65.	Double Click #46	17:12	\|	GABE1	19/08/07

66.	DCLICK.Why did Egypt kick out the UN peace keepers ?	17:31	\|	PETER SM	19/08/07

67.	Crazy Russia Arms The Syrians Who Are Huge Terror Sponsor	17:33	\|	Tal	19/08/07

68.	indrajaya"indications, possibilities, analytical explanations "	18:00	\|	PETER SM	19/08/07

69.	# 64, FAKE INDRAJAYA	18:16	\|	indrajaya	19/08/07

70.	13 David. Yours are words of wisdom but the	18:53	\|	John Allen	19/08/07

71.	If So, Why Arms Deals with Iran and Russia?	18:57	\|	Solon	19/08/07

72.	TO NO 9. MARK LINCOLN	19:06	\|	DANNY.	19/08/07

73.	#52 axel grinds to a halt again !!	20:02	\|	victor hardman	19/08/07

74.	Israel is not planning to attack Syria	20:21	\|	Sarah	19/08/07

75.	Anyone hear of intelligence?	20:34	\|	Tzfonit	19/08/07

76.	Yeah Yeah Blah Blah Here`s The Problem!	20:51	\|	Yosemite	19/08/07

77.	Moderate Arabs Say Syria is not attacking	21:19	\|	Larry	19/08/07

78.	whats the big dea	21:19	\|	Ryan	19/08/07

79.	Indrajaya Please Come To Iran For A Medal!	21:20	\|	Majid Moghaddas	19/08/07

80.	Senior Arab officials tell Israel that Syria is not planning atta	21:30	\|	Martin List,M.D.	19/08/07

81.	Arab Officials rell Israel......	21:31	\|	Dagma	19/08/07

82.	HAARETZ WANTS ISRAELIS TO GO TO SLEEP SO THAT	22:11	\|	Ron	19/08/07

83.	israel must go to war against israel`s arab internal enemy!	22:15	\|	Mussa	19/08/07

84.	Senior Arab officials	22:42	\|	Brod	19/08/07

85.	Syria and War	23:04	\|	Connie	19/08/07

86.	#73 Big-OT in Belfast	23:16	\|	Labhras	19/08/07

87.	Two "Friendly" Arab Countries	23:16	\|	Efox	19/08/07

88.	Tzfonit - how the game is played	00:38	\|	Mark Lincoln	20/08/07

89.	Israel Should Attack	02:21	\|	Bernie	20/08/07

90.	Solon, Israelis are Very Scary	02:26	\|	Bernie	20/08/07

91.	Sure Sarah, that`s what Moshe Said in 1967 too	02:34	\|	Bernie	20/08/07

92.	Sure Sarah, that`s what Moshe Said in 1967 too	02:34	\|	Bernie	20/08/07

93.	WAR is not the answer.....	03:04	\|	Wally	20/08/07

94.	The Truth	03:29	\|	Sancho Pancho	20/08/07

95.	Re 9 Back in the USSR.	03:35	\|	Alan the real one	20/08/07

96.	Re 30 Don`t remove 21	03:39	\|	Alan the real one	20/08/07

97.	BERNIE.HERE is what Assad Sr. said in 1967.You are confabulating	06:08	\|	PETERSM	20/08/07

98.	The Big Picture	07:59	\|	Nahoum	20/08/07

99.	Bernie, Bernie, Bernie.. You Invented More Stories	08:20	\|	Eli	20/08/07

100.	to #35 An Arab Neighbor	11:11	\|	Empresaria	20/08/07

101.	#42 Chris Linthwaite	11:15	\|	Empre	20/08/07

102.	#76 Yosemite	11:17	\|	Empresaria	20/08/07

103.	#90 Bernie, honorable arabs?	11:20	\|	Empresaria	20/08/07

104.	not for the meantime anyway	19:12	\|	ka	20/08/07

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