Moallem. 'Israel is sowing an atmosphere of war'
Photo: Reuters
Barak. Negotiations after war?
Photo: Yaron Brener
Syria: If Israelis declare war, we'll hit their cities
Syrian Foreign Minister Moallem accuses Jewish state of 'playing the role of villain in the region'
"Israel
knows that if it declares war on Syria,
such a war will reach its cities as well," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said Wednesday following his meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos.
"Such is the reality in the Middle East. After such a war ends we will sit and negotiate on the same exact issues we've been discussing with the Syrians for the past 15 years," he said.
The Syrian minister spoke on the backdrop of remarks made by Defense Minister Ehud Barak earlier this week. Speaking at a forum of senior IDF commanders, Barak said a full-blown war with Syria was possible in case a peace agreement is not reached.
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Moallem added in the press conference with Moratinos, "Israel is sowing an atmosphere of war in the region. Once they threaten Gaza, once southern Lebanon, then Iran and now Syria. We are saying to them, 'Stop playing the role of villain in the region.'
"The Israelis must return to the road of righteousness and adopt the road of peace, which has become clear," he said, adding that his country was preparing for all possibilities.
"Syria does not rule out the possibility of an Israeli attack, as that entity lives on aggressiveness. If Israel touches southern Lebanon or Syria, this will turn into an all-out war," he added.
Moallem clarified, "We rule out the possibility that our generation will view peace talks after such a war breaks out."
