Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack

Damascus is prepared for an Israeli attack on its soil, but has chosen peace as its strategic option, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said on Friday. Moallem told a Sudanese news agency that as Western pressure on Syria intensifies, Damascus is readying for the possibility of further contention with the United States and perhaps even wars in the region. Also Friday, the Al-Hayat daily reported that Israel and Syria have been exchanging messages of a truce accompanied by mutual warnings against spurring war in the region...Meanwhile, Israeli Military Intelligence officials said Thursday at a defense briefing that Syria has not mobilized its reserve forces, despite press reports to the contrary. No irregular moves had taken place in recent days on the Syrian side of the border, the officials added. This estimate contradicts media reports of a recent Syrian deployment of three armored divisions, which was considered as likely to have stemmed from concerns in Damascus about an Israeli strike in response to an attack by Hezbollah. Hezbollah has threatened to attack Israel as revenge for what it claims is Jerusalem's responsibility in the assassination of terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyah in February. Intelligence officials did say, however, that there were signs of "nervousness" and alertness on the Syrian Golan Heights signs that also appeared last spring and continued into the summer. Defense officials attributed the Syrian alertness in the sector to widespread training exercises planned by the Israel Defense Forces for the near future. Israeli military officials believe the Syrian army is continuing to train intensively, as it has since the Second Lebanon War, and that Iran continues to provide arms to both Syria and Hezbollah. Defense sources had earlier said on Wednesday that Israel is concerned that recent actions by the Syrian armed forces are a possible preamble for a Hezbollah operation against the northern border and a broader conflagration. Also Wednesday, Major-General Dan Harel, the Deputy Chief of Staff, warned Wednesday that Israel will respond with a heavy hand against anyone trying to target Israel. In a further sign that tensions were mounting along the Israel-Syrian border, Defense Minister Ehud Barak canceled a scheduled visit to Germany.

By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/971616.html

As in the days of Noah....