"The Israeli security establishment is analyzing the ramifications of Syrian President Bashar Assad's visit
to Russia, with an emphasis on Damascus' intentions to purchase advanced weaponry and upgrade its army," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said
Thursday.
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| Assad to Russia: Plant missiles in Syria / Yael Barnovski and AP |
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Russia Today TV reports Syrian president will allow Russia to place anti-aircraft weaponry in Syria, in response to US planting of missiles in Poland. Acting Russian ambassador in Israel: Why would we need to deploy missiles here? |
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During his trip to Russia Assad offered President Dmitry Medvedev to counter Washington's involvement in Poland by planting Russian missiles on Syrian soil. Assad was apparently referring to the Russian S-300 anti-plane missiles, which could threaten US aircrafts in the Middle East.
The missiles, placed on Syrian territory, would also make an Israeli air strike more difficult.
Following Syria's request to purchase new weapons from Russia, Likud Knesset Member Silvan Shalom said Israel should demand that Moscow refrain from "arming its enemies.
"Arming Syria would lead to a strategic change and could destabilize the Middle East and the world", he said.
Earlier Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Syria "is receiving legitimacy through its indirect negotiations with Israeli despite violating the arms embargo and emboldening the terror groups".
Amnon Meranda contributed to the report
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