Jerusalem skeptical of reported Tehran-Damascus deal

Prime Minister's Office says Israel doubts authenticity of reports of new strategic alliance between Iran and Syria

Ronny Sofer
Published: 07.22.07, 00:22 / Israel News

"We doubt the credibility of the report in al-Sharq al-Awsat regarding a possible arms deal between Iran and Syria," said senior political sources in Jerusalem on Saturday night. "The report must be authenticated," they clarified.

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The report alleges that Tehran and Damascus have agreed on a strategic alliance which would see Iran providing millions of dollars in weapons to Syria so long as the latter refused to engage Israel in peace talks.

Despite the official dismissal of the reports by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, aides close to him have said that "the very fact that the summit is in Damascus, with (Iranian President) Mahmoud Ahmadinjead, (Hizbullah director general) Hassan Nasrallah and (Hamas political chief) Khaled Mashaal in attendance, just proves how deep (Syrian President Bashar) Assad is in league with the axis of evil.

"Maybe because of that he is not responding to the overtures extended to him by the prime minister. We are still in favor of direct negotiations with Syria, with no middle-men or preconditions."

Olmert's office said on Saturday that Israel has alternative means of validating the report and that al-Sharq al-Awsat is a publication that has long since maintained very poor relations with the Iranian regime.

The report has stirred up a considerable storm in the Israeli political scene, the height of which saw Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman calling for the formation of a national emergency government.

Coalition sources said however that Lieberman's motives may not necessarily be rooted in concern for national security.

"We mustn't forget that Lieberman suffered a devastating blow in the Knesset last week due to Olmert and Kadima's objection to his bill proposal, which sought to change Israel's current political system into a presidential one. Maybe this is his way of telling Olmert that he (Lieberman) is still his own man," said the sources.

Meanwhile Olmert is expected to begin an unusually hectic week and, during Sunday's cabinet meeting, is expected to address the highly critical State comptroller's report. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who is also expected to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni and President Shimon Peres.

On Wednesday the cabinet will discuss the conduct of the home front during the Second Lebanon War. That same day, delegates from Egypt and Jordan are scheduled to meet with Olmert in Jerusalem as representatives of the Arab League.

"The prime minister is the one who sought out a meeting with the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers at the summit in Sharem el-Sheik. We look forward to discussing the process with them, including the Arab League's initiative. We are open to listening to the initiative, but we must also be allowed to voice our objections," said Olmert's aides.

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