Syrians excited about pullout (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
Syria: Pullout an Israeli defeat
Commentators on official Syrian radio overjoyed over settlement evacuation, say Israeli withdrawal an important step on the way to liberating Palestine
The upcoming withdrawal from the Gaza Strip constitutes an Israeli defeat, according to comments made on Syria’s official radio station Sunday. Notably, the station represents the government view on political affairs.
The pullout is a “victory for the Palestinian people and proof of Israel’s failure despite the military pressure exerted on the Palestinians by (Prime Minister) Sharon,” commentators said.
Pullout Nearing
By Ali Waked
First official Palestinian Authority celebration marks Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip; Mahmoud Abbas: this is first step in creating Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital
According to the Syrians, the withdrawal marks the “failure of Israeli crimes, which were manifested through killings, assassinations, home demolitions…and other war crimes forbidden by international law.”
‘Cold-blooded, barbaric crimes’
The Syrian commentators spoke excitedly about the pullout and said it marks “Israel’s admission to its defeat and its collapse under the blows delivered against it by Palestinian resistance groups, which did not spare victims in order to fight the occupation.”
“This victory and the Israeli withdrawal are an important step on the way to completing Palestine’s liberation ahead of the establishment of a Palestinian state,” one commentator said.
Despite the great excitement, however, the Syrians stressed that the road to a Palestinian state would not be easy, “as we’re talking about a racist enemy that does not hesitate to commit cold-blooded, barbaric crimes.”
The Syrians also said Prime Minister Sharon is using the pullout as an attempt to evade the American-brokered road map peace plan.
