Assad said to have given Hamas, Jihad green light for terrorism

Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this month gave Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives in Damascus a green light to carry out terror attacks and escalate fighting against Israel, Israel Radio said Wednesday, quoting a high-level Palestinian Authority intelligence dispatch, which was reportedly passed on to Egypt and Israel.

Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim said Wednesday that Israel was aquainted with the dispatch.

Boim, referring to U.S. and international pressure on Syria over events in Iraq and the alleged involvement of Damascus in the assassination of investigation of alleged Syrian involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri, told the radio:

"Assad in Damascus is very pressured, in a state of distress, and as a result, he is trying apparently to step up his support [of Hamas and Jihad attacks] in order to lift pressure from other fronts," Boim said.

The meeting took place on September 10, the radio said, quoting Assad as telling the unnamed Hamas and Jihad officials that they had "full freedom of movement to do as they chose in the Palestinian arena."

The report further quoted Assad as having said that international pressure had put Syria under siege. "Do what you need to do in the territories, divert the fire away from me," Assad was quoted as having told the Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives.

Assad also reportedly praised as "a genuine leader" senior PLO official Farouk Qaddoumi, a main rival to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and a longstanding advocate of continuing armed combat with Israel.

Assad held talks with Qaddoumi three days before the September 10 meeting, the radio said.

Boim, asked if Israel would seek U.S. pressure on Syria over the meeting, said Assad's remarks indicated that pressure from Washington was already being applied.

"The United States has, as we have, detailed reports on Syria's involvement in terror activity in Iraq. The trans-Atlantic pressure, involving the U.S. and France in particular, regarding Syrian operations in Lebanon, has already prompted the Syrian army to pull out of Lebanon after 29 years of occupation there."