Official French sources described the war of words between Israel
and Syria
as a "soap bubble", saying Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's threats directed at the regime in Damascus do not reflect Israel's military or political strategy.
On Saturday the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat quoted one of the sources as saying that Lieberman was "hot-tempered". The sources said Paris holds the FM largely responsible for the heightened tensions between Israel and Syria.
On Thursday Lieberman warned
Syrian President Bashar Assad that in an event of war with Israel, "not only will you lose the war, you and your family will no longer be in power."
Speaking during a business conference at Bar-Ilan University, Lieberman said, "Whoever thinks (Israeli) territorial concessions will separate Syria from the axis of evil is mistaken. Syria must be made to understand that it has to relinquish its demand (that Israel cede) the Golan Heights."
A few hours after the speech, which was condemned by members of the Opposition, Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a joint statement saying "Israel is seeking peace and wants to engage in political negotiations with Syria, without pre-conditions. Nevertheless, Israel will continue to fiercely and firmly respond to any potential threat."
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