| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
11 Jan 2004 04:57:30 PM |
| Object: |
Syria seeks peace talks with Israel at the point where it broke down] |
Syria seeks peace talks with Israel
at the point where it broke down
Saturday 10 January 2004, 14:15 GMT
english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A12B5C7F-24B6-462B-9ECF-9CCAAD7B194E.htm
Bashar al-Asad's regime faces
the threat of US sanctions
Syria has urged the United States to wield its
influence and help revive peace negotiations with Israel.
"Syria wants the United States to work seriously for a
resumption of the peace process with Israel at the
point where it broke down," the official al-Thawra
newspaper said on Saturday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, whose regime faces the
threat of US sanctions, said last month he wanted to
restart negotiations with Israel that collapsed four
years ago.
But despite some support within his own government,
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rebuffed the overture.
Sharon instead announced plans to increase by half the
Jewish population of the Golan Heights, which was
seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and
unilaterally annexed in 1981.
Asking for credible role
"Syria wants the United States to play an honest,
neutral, objective and credible role... and not allow
Israel to miss this opportunity, as Sharon tried to do
by saying the negotiations must start from scratch,"
the newspaper said.
Under ex-PM Barak, Israel agreed to withdraw from most
of the Golan Heights except for a narrow strip of land,
an option Syria rejected.
Syria's appeal was made even though Washington has
threatened Damascus with diplomatic and economic
sanctions, accusing it of "sponsoring terrorism" and
developing weapons of mass destruction.
Denying charges
Damascus has denied the charges, and accuses Washington
of double standards and not doing enough to rein in its
close ally Israel, the only nuclear power in the Middle East.
Despite the deterioration in relations, the first US
ambassador to serve in Syria for four months presented
her credentials on Saturday to President al-Asad, who
wished her "success in her mission," the official SANA
news agency reported.
Margaret Scobey accompanied visiting US Senator Bill
Nelson to a meeting with al-Asad where they "discussed
the full range of issues relating to US-Syrian
relations and regional issues."
In a first official meeting with Scobey last week,
Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara highlighted the
"importance of launching a positive and constructive
dialogue between the two countries that would permit a
better understanding of each side's positions and
secure their interests".
Tense relations
Relations have been tense since the US-led invasion of
Syria's eastern neighbour Iraq in March.
Washington accuses Damascus of helping to arm the
ousted regime of Saddam Hussein and of turning a blind
eye to foreign armed fighters entering Iraq to carry
out attacks on the US-led occupation forces.
The new US legislation threatens sanctions unless
Damascus ends its alleged "support for terrorism" and
development of chemical and biological arms as well as
medium and long-range missiles.
Washington also calls on Syria to withdraw its
estimated 20,000 troops from neighbouring Lebanon and
for both to enter into serious unconditional bilateral
negotiations" with Israel to secure "a full and
permanent peace."
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
.
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 05:31:21 PM |
|
|
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING HIZBALLAH
Senior American sources are of the opinion that Assad's
"peace offerings" are not genuine, and that Israel
should not fall into the trap of believing him.
Washington has transmitted to Israel messages to this
effect over the past few days. The White House, too,
according to today's edition of Maariv, is of the
opinion that Assad is still a supporter of terrorism.
Had Assad truly been serious, it is felt, he would have
made his offer via normal diplomatic channels, and not
through a newspaper.
Itamar Rabinowitz, the former Israel Ambassador to the
U.S. who led previous Israeli negotiations with Syria,
says that nothing was ever finalized with the Syrians.
For this reason, Rabinowitz says, there is nothing
behind Assad's demand that future talks resume from the
point they left off. Assad has said that he has no
pre-conditions, but insists that the negotiations
resume from where they ended under Ehud Barak - a
code-phrase meaning that Israel must come ready to cede
the entire Golan Heights except for a few dozen meters
around the northeastern Kinneret shore.
It was reported on Thursday that Syria took advantage
of the recent cataclysmic earthquake in Iran to resume
arms shipments to Hizballah. Syria, according to the
reports, tricked the United States by sending planes it
claimed were carrying
humanitarian aid. The planes then returned to Syria
loaded with arms and war materiel that were then
transferred to Hizballah in Lebanon. Iran has denied
the reports, but Syria has not said a word.
Prime Minister Sharon said today that though Israel is
interested in peace, Assad must cease his support for
terrorist organizations before Israel enters into talks
with him. "We don't have to be Assad's stepping-stone
into the White House," Sharon told the Cabinet this
morning. "It happened last time with Arafat, and ended catastrophically."
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
--
As Orwell pointed out long ago, pacifism in the face of
armed evil is equivalent to a blind worship of force.
It would be disastrous to entrust our children's fate
to the hands of these sad and complicitous pacifists.
.
|
|
|
| User: "InsuranceBroker" |
|
| Title: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 07:33:48 PM |
|
|
Subject: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH
From:
Date: 1/11/2004 6:31 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <4001DC0D.7B861C69@suntimesmail.com>
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING
Well what do you expect since the Israel bombed part of Syria.
HIZBALLAH
You bet especially for Israel. Attack others and then talk about them as if
they are trouble makers.
Senior American sources are of the opinion that Assad's
"peace offerings" are not genuine, and that Israel
should not fall into the trap of believing him.
Washington has transmitted to Israel messages to this
effect over the past few days. The White House, too,
according to today's edition of Maariv, is of the
opinion that Assad is still a supporter of terrorism.
Had Assad truly been serious, it is felt, he would have
made his offer via normal diplomatic channels, and not
through a newspaper.
Itamar Rabinowitz, the former Israel Ambassador to the
U.S. who led previous Israeli negotiations with Syria,
says that nothing was ever finalized with the Syrians.
For this reason, Rabinowitz says, there is nothing
behind Assad's demand that future talks resume from the
point they left off. Assad has said that he has no
pre-conditions, but insists that the negotiations
resume from where they ended under Ehud Barak - a
code-phrase meaning that Israel must come ready to cede
the entire Golan Heights except for a few dozen meters
around the northeastern Kinneret shore.
It was reported on Thursday that Syria took advantage
of the recent cataclysmic earthquake in Iran to resume
arms shipments to Hizballah. Syria, according to the
reports, tricked the United States by sending planes it
claimed were carrying
humanitarian aid. The planes then returned to Syria
loaded with arms and war materiel that were then
transferred to Hizballah in Lebanon. Iran has denied
the reports, but Syria has not said a word.
Prime Minister Sharon said today that though Israel is
interested in peace, Assad must cease his support for
terrorist organizations before Israel enters into talks
with him. "We don't have to be Assad's stepping-stone
into the White House," Sharon told the Cabinet this
morning. "It happened last time with Arafat, and ended catastrophically."
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
--
As Orwell pointed out long ago, pacifism in the face of
armed evil is equivalent to a blind worship of force.
It would be disastrous to entrust our children's fate
to the hands of these sad and complicitous pacifists.
Doing Insurance business in the Garden State
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." |
|
| Title: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 07:22:10 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:31:21 -0500, wrote:
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING HIZBALLAH
So it's our job now to make the world safe for Israel?
Haven't we already done more than our share?
Can't the Israelis take care of themselves? Can't we just give them a
few billion a year and count that as enough of our contribution?
Or do we have to get involved and get the A league of terrorists after
us?
It's not like we don't also help terrorists. We have supported so many
murderous and terrorist outfits, that we can't seriously argue that
supporting terrorism per se is a sin.
So it has to be an effort to help Israel.
Let them help themselves. They're fully capable of doing that.
We've done more than our share already.
Senior American sources are of the opinion that Assad's
"peace offerings" are not genuine, and that Israel
should not fall into the trap of believing him.
Washington has transmitted to Israel messages to this
effect over the past few days. The White House, too,
according to today's edition of Maariv, is of the
opinion that Assad is still a supporter of terrorism.
Had Assad truly been serious, it is felt, he would have
made his offer via normal diplomatic channels, and not
through a newspaper.
Itamar Rabinowitz, the former Israel Ambassador to the
U.S. who led previous Israeli negotiations with Syria,
says that nothing was ever finalized with the Syrians.
For this reason, Rabinowitz says, there is nothing
behind Assad's demand that future talks resume from the
point they left off. Assad has said that he has no
pre-conditions, but insists that the negotiations
resume from where they ended under Ehud Barak - a
code-phrase meaning that Israel must come ready to cede
the entire Golan Heights except for a few dozen meters
around the northeastern Kinneret shore.
It was reported on Thursday that Syria took advantage
of the recent cataclysmic earthquake in Iran to resume
arms shipments to Hizballah. Syria, according to the
reports, tricked the United States by sending planes it
claimed were carrying
humanitarian aid. The planes then returned to Syria
loaded with arms and war materiel that were then
transferred to Hizballah in Lebanon. Iran has denied
the reports, but Syria has not said a word.
Prime Minister Sharon said today that though Israel is
interested in peace, Assad must cease his support for
terrorist organizations before Israel enters into talks
with him. "We don't have to be Assad's stepping-stone
into the White House," Sharon told the Cabinet this
morning. "It happened last time with Arafat, and ended catastrophically."
<http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com>
.
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 08:54:57 PM |
|
|
"George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:31:21 -0500, wrote:
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING HIZBALLAH
So it's our job now to make the world safe for Israel?
Where did you read that, you ignorant jackass
Go home and chew on your tyres!
--
As Orwell pointed out long ago, pacifism in the face of
armed evil is equivalent to a blind worship of force.
It would be disastrous to entrust our children's fate
to the hands of these sad and complicitous pacifists.
.
|
|
|
| User: "InsuranceBroker" |
|
| Title: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 09:19:05 PM |
|
|
Subject: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH
From:
Date: 1/11/2004 9:54 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <40020BBF.E407D06D@suntimesmail.com>
"George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:31:21 -0500, wrote:
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING HIZBALLAH
So it's our job now to make the world safe for Israel?
Where did you read that, you ignorant jackass
Let see. We invade iraq. We want to Invade Iran. We threaten Syria. So what
have all there nations have in common but they have all been bombed by Israel?
Go home and chew on your tyres!
--
As Orwell pointed out long ago, pacifism in the face of
armed evil is equivalent to a blind worship of force.
It would be disastrous to entrust our children's fate
to the hands of these sad and complicitous pacifists.
Doing Insurance business in the Garden State
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." |
|
| Title: Re: SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE, CONTINUES ARMING HIZBULLAH |
11 Jan 2004 09:48:43 PM |
|
|
On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 21:54:57 -0500, wrote:
"George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr." wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:31:21 -0500, wrote:
SYRIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE,
CONTINUES ARMING HIZBALLAH
So it's our job now to make the world safe for Israel?
Hezbollah has long avoided US targets, and we have no reason to oppose
them. Other than to weaken those around Israel opposed to its
domination of the Palestinians.
You have failed to explain why we should make Hezbollah consider going
after US targets.
I again ask you why should it be our job to make the world safe for
Israel. Israel is an impressive place capable of taking care of
itself.
Where did you read that, you ignorant jackass
I
Go home and chew on your tyres!
I am sorry that you are ignorant of such basic facts, but if you don't
want to listen to me you will only be hurting yourself.
-
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: "Relief" Planes Transported Weapons From Iran To Hezbollah Via Damascus |
11 Jan 2004 09:02:41 PM |
|
|
"Relief" Planes Transported Weapons From Iran
To Hezballah Via Damascus
Dr. Aaron Lerner 9 January 2004
Israel Radio reported this morning that Israeli
security sources say Syria and Iran have recently
stepped up the flow of weapons to Hezbollah via the
cover of "humanitarian relief" planes bringing aid to
the Iranian earthquake victims.
The planes were loaded with weapons in Iran and flown
back to Damascus where the weapons were transferred to
Hezballah. The United States has been informed of the situation.
[Iran has predictably denied the story -- Syria is mum.]
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
