‘Palestinians must fight terror.’ Olmert
Photo: Gil Yochanan
Olmert: Assad up to his neck in terror activity
Prime Minister tells EU ambassadors, ‘Syria supports Hizbullah, destabilizes Lebanon, protects Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders and maintains close ties with Iran’
Prime Minister EhudOlmert told European Union and other ambassadors Wednesday that “Israel is certainly interested in conducting negotiations for peace with Syria,” but added that Damascus’ actions indicate that its peace overtures are ‘not serious.’
PM's meeting with ambassadors (Photo: Gil Yochanan)
The prime minister further added that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime supports Hizbullah, destabilizes Lebanon, protects Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders and maintains close ties with Iran, which calls for Israel’s destruction.
Olmert said there is no reason for Israel to give up on its principles when the Syrian president is “up to his neck in terror-supporting activity.”
Turning his attention to the Palestinians, the prime minister told the ambassadors that the international community supports the implementation of the Road Map and the Quartet’s guidelines.
“These guidelines obligate the Palestinians to execute their commitment, denounce terror and fight it – as a basic condition for negotiations,” he said. “These guidelines must be upheld.”
Olmert also updated the ambassadors on Israel’s gestures aimed at strengthening moderate Palestinian Authority elements.
