Syria: Without peace, resistance will liberate Golan Heights

Dit is in feite een simpel dreigement. Als Israël niet de Syrische voorwaarden voor vrede aanvaart, zal Syrië de Golan met geweld terugveroveren. Voor onderhandelen is in de Syrische visie geen ruimte. Zoals ik eerder heb geschreven, is een dergelijke houding alleen gebruikelijk nadat de vijand vernietigend is verslagen. Trekt Syrië hier misschien een iets te grote broek aan?
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Syria: Without peace, resistance will liberate Golan Heights
Syrian information minister says Damascus wants peace, but will resort to
violence if Israel rejects peace proposal; 'any nation living under
occupation has the prerogative to resist,' he says
Roee Nahmias YNET Published: 04.16.07, 21:33 / Israel News

"If Israel rejects the Arab League peace proposal, resistance will be the
only way to liberate the Golan Heights," warns Syrian Information Minister
Muhsen Bilal, at a press conference in Damascus Monday.

The minister explained that Syria had an interest in renewing talks with
Israel with support from America and Russia. "Syria wants to reach a fair,
comprehensive peace," he added. However, he also stated that "any nation
living under occupation has the prerogative to resist. In Lebanon, Palestine
and Iraq, we must liberate all occupied Arab land."

Bilal blamed Israel for causing instability in the Middle East.

He also referred to Ibrahim Soliman's visit to Israel. Soliman, a
Syrian-American, is recognized as someone who reached an understanding with
former Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Liel regarding peace between
Israel and Syria.

"We have nothing to do with his visit," Bilal made clear. "Nobody elected
Soliman to represent Syria. He does not speak for any Syrian institute. It
is not our approach, to conduct underground negotiations."

Damascus announced Monday that it planned to host an international
conference to discuss "media coverage of the Palestinian problem and Iran's
right to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."

Bilal told reporters that the conference would focus on "several studies on
the Arab media coverage - professional ethics versus commitment to national
matters - as well as the concept of resistance in the Arab media."

The conference will take place on April 30; it will be headed by Syrian
President Bashar Assad; and 350 journalists, academics and politicians are
planned to attend.