We don't plan to attack Syria, says Olmert

Prime minister tells Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Syria is preparing for an Israeli attack against it, but that IDF does not intend to strike. Olmert says disappointed by unrealistic Palestinian prisoner list
Amnon Meranda

"Israel has no intention to attack Syria," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting Wednesday.

Syrian Envoy

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Olmert said that while Syria believes Israel plans to strike it, the IDF is also preparing for the scenario of a Syrian onslaught against it.

Olmert's statements came in response to Syrian Information Minister Muhsen Bilal's words this week, that "If Israel rejects the Arab League peace proposal, resistance will be the only way to liberate the Golan Heights."

The minister explained that Syria had an interest in renewing talks with Israel with support from America and Russia. "Syria wants to reach a fair, comprehensive peace," he added. However, he also stated that "any nation living under occupation has the prerogative to resist. In Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq, we must liberate all occupied Arab land."

Referring to the list of prisoners that has been handed over to Israel by the Palestinians in the framework of negotiations over the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, the prime minister said, "This is a disappointing list, which creates expectations we are unable to meet."

The list of Palestinian prisoners Hamas wants released includes Tanzim head Marwan Barghouti, Ahmed Sadat, the head of the Popular Front whose members murdered Minister Rehavam Zeevi, and other prisoners with blood on their hands.