Military Intelligence: Syria seeks peace but bolsters Hizbullah
Head of MI research division, Brigadier-General Yossi Baidatz, tells members of Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Damascus will not change its attitude towards Iran, will continue transferring weapons to Lebanese terror group
The head of the research division of Military Intelligence, Brigadier-General Yossi Baidatz, attended the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Monday, and said that Syria was interested in advancing the peace process with Israel.
"It is our understanding that the Syrians are interested and want to see the diplomatic process move forward," he told the committee members.
"It continued to transfer significant weapons to Hizbullah. Part of the weapons also reach southern Lebanon. Hizbullah is continuing to build its rocket power both south and north of the Litani (river). Some of the missiles come from Syria and some from Iran," he said.
Baidats added that "the Syrians do not have a real dilemma whether to change their attitude towards Iran."
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday that he was certain "the Syrian leadership will run the arena wisely, and will not abandon the frontline of the battle unril the threats on the part of the Zionist regime are completely removed."
Addressing the situation in the Palestinian territories, Baidatz said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "controls the Palestinian agenda in a limited manner."
Knesset Member Silvan Shalom (Likud) asked him whether Abbas would compete in the next Palestinian elections, and Baidatz replied that "there is a chance he won't compete."
Representatives of the Israel Defense Forces presented the MKs with new data on the army's activity in the Gaza Strip over the past few months: The Air Force carried out 71 strikes against Palestinian targets and ground forces conducted 34 operations. At least 70 terrorists were killed in all the attacks, the IDF reported.
