Peretz on Syria: Threats won’t be ignored
Defense minister addresses forum of peace organizations saying ‘I am man of peace no less than you,’ but stresses that aggressions cannot be ignored, referring in particular to Syria. Peretz also stresses necessity of alleviating restrictions on Palestinians
Defense Minister Amir Peretz addressed a forum of peace organizations in Tel Aviv Tuesday evening and delivered placating remarks: “No military process will set the policy we want. Only diplomatic processes can establish reality,” he said.
“I am a man of peace no less than any one of you,” Peretz assured the activists. He further called on them to report any incident of settlers damaging Palestinian olive trees.
“Damaging olive trees hurts Israel’s image. It does not serve Israel. It hurts the image of every one of us as a human being. I will give you an address, and I ask that you report (such incidents) to us. Don’t do the work in our place. Don’t scuffle with settlers. Let’s give it a try,” he said.
Peretz also addressed recent developments in the Syrian sector, but in this matter he was aggressive. “The president of Syria communicates double messages. We can’t by any means ignore threats of war, and we will deploy our forces according to the reality and the threats,” he stated.
The defense minister was responding to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s comments last week in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel that “Syria wants peace with Israel and not to see its destruction.” However, he followed up the remark with another exhibiting readiness for war.
'Balancing presence'
Peretz expressed pride in his performance as defense minister: “I think my presence is a very balancing presence. The decision-making ranks are tending towards letting the Palestinians live their lives. I see myself as leading in any process that will be alleviating for the population,” he said.
He added: “I don’t think we need to discuss the matter of whether or not we have a partner every morning. I very much hope that there will be talks with (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas. A Palestinian unity government could be a framework that will blanch terror. I suggest we not become involved in internal PA affairs. We must observe what goes on there. No one can convince me that the war on terror hurts the chances for talks.”
“The terror organizations are interested in a humanitarian crisis. I am doing everything so that every channel remains open. I am sorry to say, but you cannot charge our security services with exaggerating – and I check them every day. I don’t intend to apologize to anyone,” he stated.
