Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 28, 2008 Iyyar 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 06:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:31 26/05/2008 MI: Syria continuing to arm Hezbollah despite peace moves with Israel By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent and DPA Tags: Israel, Military Intelligence  The head of the Military Intelligence research division Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz on Monday said that Syria was continuing to transfer significant amounts of weapons to the Lebanon-based guerilla group Hezbollah. Last week, in a surprise three-way announcement from Jerusalem, Damascus and Ankara, Israel and Syria announced that they were holding indirect peace negotiations under Turkish mediation, the first such talks in eight years. "The weapons are arriving in Lebanon, and then they make their way to the south of the country [to Hezbollah]" Baidatz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Advertisement Baidatz said that in his view, Syria was not really considering changing its attitude toward Iran, an outspoken opponent of Israel, despite diplomatic contacts with Israel. He added, however, that he felt that the Syrians were earnestly interested in advancing the peace process with Israel. The intelligence chief went on to say that the Hezbollah was continuing to enhance its rocket capability both north and south of the Litani River, which serves as a demarcation line indicating the northern border of what is considered southern Lebanon. "The rockets are coming in from Syria and Iran," Baidatz said. Baidatz also addressed the Palestinian Authority in his speech before the Knesset committee, saying that the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the Palestinian people will gradually diminish. In response to a question put forth by MK Silvan Shalom (Likud), Baidatz said that Abbas will likely not run for reelection in January 2009. According to data presented by Baidatz, the Israel Defense Forces carried out 71 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip over the last two months, and 34 ground operations during that period of time. The IDF maintains that 70 Palestinian militants were killed in these operations. Olmert, who also addressed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, denied reports that he had committed to withdrawing from the Golan Heights, as a precondition set by Syria for renewing peace negotiations. "All I said to the Syrians was that I know what you want, and you know what I want. There was no commitment beyond that," Olmert told the Knesset committee. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem has recently said that Damascus had agreed to revive the peace talks after receiving assurances via Turkey from Israel, that it was willing to fully withdraw from the Golan, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day war. Olmert defended his decision to revive the talks with Syria, saying "if, heaven forbid, against our will and because of a miscalculation, we were drawn into a violent confrontation with the Syrians, then [people] would come and ask me 'how can it be that they wanted peace and you didn't even explore that possibility?'" Bookmark to del.icio.us   From hunted to hunter Jerusalem camera catches brutal attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths. The will to power Palestinian governments violate human rights in quest for control.   1.   Israeli intelligence like the American is cooked in kitchen 18:12  |  El-Birawi 26/05/08   2.   This Is Why Syria Is Playing Games,Cannot Be Peace 18:13  |  Shepherd 26/05/08   3.   Why would they stop supplying arms? Peace deal not signed yet. 18:35  |  Aounist 26/05/08   4.   All i said : I know what you want , but nobody knows what i want 18:42  |  Sal 26/05/08   5.   El Birawi`s Reconquista 18:46  |  utagawa 26/05/08   6.   Syria Will Continue Doing this After Any "Peace Deal" 19:18  |  Tod Zuckerman 26/05/08   7.   Heaven forbid I did not try for peace .-Says Olmert 19:22  |  Joshua 26/05/08   8.   Unless and until Syria is ready to state in public in Arabic, 19:24  |  Nahum 26/05/08   9.   answer to El-Birawi 20:15  |  Dan 26/05/08   10.   Yes, Rabin got this sentence...death... 20:20  |  Sad 26/05/08   11.   Syria cannot be trusted! 20:44  |  Jean Van Daem 26/05/08   12.   Hermit, are you lost again ? Buy a GPS. 21:29  |  Stephen. 26/05/08   13.   US continues to arm Israel to the teeth.... 21:39  |  Palestinian Brit 26/05/08   14.   Well they have not arrived to any agreement, why should they stop 22:28  |  Diplomat 26/05/08   15.   Joshua (the strange) 22:30  |  Israeli the rational 26/05/08   16.   Peace moves? 22:54  |  Cool B 26/05/08   17.   Plan for smuggling is to wash it into being legal 23:01  |  Pablo B 26/05/08   18.   El birawi 01:50  |  David 27/05/08   19.   #13, Palestinian Brit... 08:51  |  Silvienne 27/05/08   20.   Who expects something different from the Syrians? 06:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/05/08

Read & React Israel's wrong to ban Finkelstein, while allowing in Kahanists Responses: 239 Talansky: Olmert got $150,000 from me, introduced me to tycoons Responses: 71 VIDEO: Jerusalem camera catches attack by Jewish teens on Arab youths Responses: 153 Barack Obama: I wouldn't promise Ahmadinejad a meeting Responses: 85 Rosner's Domain The story of Obama and the 'A' word Rosner's Guest: U.S. should enforce policies on Israel Obama's uncle did not liberate Auschwitz (WTR) Explaining Hagee's Holocaust remarks Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? More Headlines 06:47 Barak mulls ultimatum to PM, may demand resignation or early elections 05:04 The good life, Olmert-style 05:13 Assad: Lebanon should talk with Israel if negotiations progress 03:13 Hamas revises prisoner list for Shalit exchange 01:11 Was William Shakespeare a Jewish woman in disguise? 04:05 Meet the submarine SMS device 03:34 Bilateral talks include reviewing textbooks for signs of incitement 04:58 Police recover Roman-era figurine, meter-high pottery in home raid 05:34 Looming water crisis endangers local food supply, warn ministers 06:11 Histadrut, employers draft agreement over employee computer privacy Previous Editions Select Day 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may

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