Israel Matzav

Assad looking to war over Golan Heights

While the European Union cozies up to the Assad regime in Syria, the chinless ophthalmologist is looking for war in Israel. In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anba, Assad said that Israel has 'abandoned the peace process' and that he is preparing for war, because he believes that Israel (with the weak Olmert-Peretz-Livni government in power yet!) is going to attack him.

The real issue with Assad appears to be that he realizes that no one in Israel is very interested in him right now, nor is anyone pushing to give Syria the Golan Heights after what happened this summer. So Assad - whose father could have had the entire Heights as a gift from Ehud Barak in 2000, but gave it up over a few feet of land - has been mouthing off to the press lately that "80% of the issues are resolved" and what's left is the "easy things" but Israel "wants war."

Here's some of what Assad said in the interview:

According to Assad, his nation is expecting an Israeli attack: "As far was we're concerned, the prospect for peace is unrelated to the changing circumstances and constitutes a basic principle, but, at the same time, we are preparing for an Israeli attack at any minute. We all know that Israel is military strong and backed by the US."

"Ever since Ariel Sharon came to power, Israel has given up on the peace process. Sharon's election was a sign that Israel had comprehensively given up on the peace process and the US government only strengthened this trend. Therefore, naturally, our expectation is that there will not be peace and perhaps will be war," said the president.

"What does it mean to be in a state neither of peace or war?" he asked. "Either war or peace. Period. This is why we have to prepare, to the best of our ability."

What would 'peace' with Assad mean? Well, here's what he had to say when he was asked to prevent smuggling of arms from Syria to Hezbullah:

"When you speak of smuggling, you must understand that it is bidirectional smuggling, not smuggling only from one side to the other. Goods arrive from every direction. Anyone who needs arms goes to a place where he can buy arms. The smuggling comes from Iraq, Lebanon and all over the place. It cannot be stopped," he said.

Thanks, but no thanks.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:50 PM