Assad. All governments the same
Photo: Reuters
"There is no escaping the fact that the day will come when we will free the Golan, through peace or through war," Syrian President Bashar Assad
said Thursday. "When a citizen loses hope – he will turn to the path of resistance, in one from or the other."
In an interview with Qatari-based newspaper al-Sharq, Assad added, "All Israeli governments are the same: Ariel Sharon carried out a massacre in Palestine, and Barak aided the war in Gaza such that there is no difference between Right and Left in Israel."
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He added: "We have our principles, and whoever abides by them will not constitute a problem for us."
According to Assad, "From the war of Palestine (in 1948) to the occupation of the Golan (in the Six Day War – R.N.) people are becoming more hostile towards Israel. There may come a generation that is unwilling to talk peace.
'Resistance in Arabs' interest'
"There is now a resurgence of the idea of resistance. Israel is advancing in a direction that goes against its interests, and eventually all people are moving towards resistance, which is certainly in the interest of the Arabs."Asked why there was no "resistance" in the Golan Heights, the Syrian president replied: "We have special, objective reasons in the Golan, which is mostly unpopulated. Its residents have undergone a transfer in 1967 and so there are very little inhabitants there, while the resistance requires large forces."
Meanwhile, Jordan is also monitoring the political developments in Israel. According to Jordanian newspaper al-Ghad, Jordan's Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi said Wednesday that "any Israeli government is the product of the Israelis' will."
Following a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in Baabda, he added: "We will regard any Israeli government according to its inclination towards the peace process and the steps it takes. Peace is the best solution for the people of the region."