'Syria seeks to thwart Arab recognition of Israel as Jewish state'
Editorial in Syrian state-owned paper Tishreen explains Damascus' decision to attend Annapolis conference by government's desire to prevent normalization with Israel
Syria "does not harbor any illusions" regarding what the summit's outcome might be, and it is convinced "that Israel does not want peace and that it has been sabotaging the peace process for the last seven years," the article continued.
By attending the conference, Syria acknowledges the fact "that the Palestinian issue is the foundation for peace, security and stability in the region. For true peace to prosper, all aspects of the conflict must be addressed, including the return of occupied Arab lands: Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian," Tishreen's editors wrote.
"In any case, peace is an Arab choice, and the Arab consensus to go to Annapolis requires a different, more important consensus – regarding unity on the Arab peace initiative.
"Today and tomorrow, Syria will support this necessary consensus, which aspires to make Israel adhere to the Arab and international principles for peace, and thwart Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan to get the Arabs to recognize Israel as Jewish state – in a bid to get normalization without paying a price."
