Avi Dichter
Photo: Yaron Brener
Syria mentally ready for peace, Dichter says
Internal security minister, IDF intelligence chief and former CIA, Mossad directors meet at intelligence panel at Jerusalem's Saban Forum. 'We have intelligence indicating Syria is ready for peace talks' says Dichter
"Many of us confuse information with intelligence – a country that wants to exercise military action needs information; a country wishing to exercise political force needs intelligence," said Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter Monday.
"We have information indicating that Syria is preparing for war, but we also have intelligence indicating it is mentally ready to negotiate peace… Syria is Lebanon's back door," added Dichter, who spoke at the Saban Forum in Jerusalem.
The minister was taking part in an intelligence panel, along with IDF Intelligence Chief Major-General Amos Yadlin, former CIA Director George Tenet, and former Mossad Chief Efraim Halevi.
"During the Intifada, over the course of three years, 300 Israelis lost their lives – that's the same as 45,000 Americans. Would the US put up with such a thing?" Dichter asked Tenet.
The minister further spoke of the need for establishing law enforcement agencies in the Palestinian Authority as part of any peace agreement.
