President Bashar Assad. 'Enhancing arms production'
Photo: AFP
UNIFIL soldier on Golan Heights border
Photo: Reuters
Intelligence official warns: Syria gearing up for confrontation
Head of Research Division at Military Intelligence Branch tells cabinet that despite Assad's diplomatic efforts, president is at the same time promoting armament efforts along border with Israel
Yossi Baidatz, head of the Research Division at the Military Intelligence Branch, told the cabinet Sunday that Syrian President Bashar Assad was working on two different fronts simultaneously – the diplomatic and the military one.
"On the one hand, he (Assad) doesn't rule out the possibility of a diplomatic settlement with Israel, but on the other hand he is preparing his forces for a military confrontation, by enhancing the production of long-range missiles and moving antitank missiles close to the Golan Heights border. From his point of view, the two do not contradict each other," Baidatz explained.
Criticism
Ron Ben Yishai
Senior Northern Command officer reports that Syria does not plan to ignite war, UNIFIL and Lebanese Military effective, Hizbullah will have hard time realigning in area
During his briefing, Baidatz said that Damascus was still involved in developments in Lebanon, and that the country was concerned regarding the international tribunal on former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's murder.
Baidatz stated that the Syrian President has been conducting intensive diplomatic negotiations in the last two weeks, in hope of capitalizing on what he believes is an international opening for talks.
The senior official has also referred to the Palestinian and the Lebanese arena and the Iranian issue. Speaking of Iran, Baidatz said that Tehran was preparing for December 25, at which time the UN Security Council is set to decide whether to impose sanctions on Iran.
Additionally, Iran was continuing its activity in Lebanon to reinforce the resistance and has maintained support for Syria as well. At the same time, Tehran was nurturing Islamic Jihad and Hamas, despite the groups' Sunni orientation, and transferring funds and technical knowledge to Hamas.
17 rockets since ceasefire
Turning his attention to the territories, Baidatz reported that since the ceasefire was first declared, on November 26, 17 rockets were launched at Israel, 13 of which on the first day of the truce. He said that although the fire has significantly decreased and that Hamas was committed to the calm – the group has been continuing to grow in strength.Baidatz reported that the Palestinian security forces have deployed in the Strip, but have not proved effective. He added that Hamas was "taking over areas and enhancing its political control," in regions where it was less dominant before.
Referring to the situation in the West Bank, the intelligence official said that attempts to launch terror attacks from the area continue. In the political arena, Hamas was continuing to show sighs of strength in face of the economic blockade, in part due to the money funneled by the Gulf States.
According to Baidatz, President Mahmoud Abbas was at a dead-end and unable to reach understandings with the rivaling Hamas group on a Palestinian unity government.
