Shalom: Road map needs to be changed (Israel)

And the "palestinian" position...

Israel accused of deliberately stalling peace plan
Palestinian minister charges Israel of thwarting any efforts to try to bring peace roadmap back on track.
First Published 2003-04-01, Last Updated 2003-04-01 12:53:23

Israel talks in English of peace but gives orders in Hebrew to attack
GAZA CITY - A senior Palestinian minister on Tuesday accused Israel of stalling an internationally drafted peace plan after Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in Washington the Palestinians had first to fight "terrorism."
Shalom stressed after a meeting with US President George W. Bush that "there cannot be two parallel paths: the war against terrorism in the day and negotiations at night.
"The end of terrorism constitutes the central question for a return to negotiations with the Palestinians," he told Israeli radio.
He was reiterating the constant argument by Israeli Minister Ariel Sharon that the Jewish state will not "negotiate under fire."
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat slammed Shalom's remarks.
"The statement by Shalom in the White House is an Israeli rejection of the roadmap," he said, referring to the peace plan based on a Bush speech last June, and drawn up in collaboration with European Union, Russian and United Nations diplomats.
"Israel is working to thwart any efforts to try to bring the peace process back on track. Shalom is challenging the White House and creating the basis for a continuing rejection of the roadmap," he said.
"Israel talks in English of peace but gives orders in Hebrew to attack," he said.
Erakat also had tough words on a US State Department report on human rights, which accused the Palestinians of serious rights violations while saying the Israelis had some problems with their large Arab minority.
"There is no talk of the highest kind of terrorism, which is occupation, controlling people under the threat of weapons. What we are facing under Israeli occupation after 35 years is the highest kind of terrorism and violation of human rights. The reports don't mention these things," he said.
The State Department's annual rights report said members of the Palestinian security forces and Arafat's Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) took part in anti-Israel violence and terrorist attacks.
It said that while there was no proof of official approval of such acts, some endorsed the use of violence in principle in a violation of commitments to halt attacks on Israelis.

Middle East Online

Rice Says Blueprint for Israel-Palestinian Settlement Is Not Negotiable

Washington (AP) - The White House said Monday its road map for setting up a Palestinian state by the end of 2005 is not negotiable and that Israel must "play its part" to pave the way.

In a speech to a pro-Israel lobby group, Condoleezza Rice, who is President Bush's national security adviser, also called on all Arab governments to recognize Israel's right to exist and said democratic reforms within the Palestinian Authority were "extremely important."

The road map, prepared jointly with the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, is designed to reopen negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians once Mahmoud Abbas is confirmed as the Palestinian prime minister.

Rice's call for a quick start - one that would prevent attempts by either side to revise the terms of the so-called road map - follows complaints by European and Arab governments that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would try to arrange more favorable terms.

They registered their objections after President Bush had said "we will expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document."

But first Secretary of State Colin Powell, and now Rice, in responding to questions at the 44th annual policy meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, tried to discourage delay.

Rice, who had asked that her remarks to thousands of members of the pro-Israel lobby be off-the-record to the news media, said of Israel and the Palestinians: "We expect their comments; it is not a matter of renegotiation. It can be commented on by the parties."

Bush envisions two states, democratic Israel and democratic Palestine, living side by side in peace.

On the war with Iraq, Bush's assistant said the most effective way to deal with Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was to try to eliminate them before they could be used.

On the war itself, she said "we are confident of the outcome."

And on Iran, which Bush has included with Iraq and North Korea in an "axis of evil," Rice said the International Atomic Energy Agency "needs to do a more thorough investigation" of its nuclear weapons program.

On Sunday, Powell said Iran must stop its drive for weapons of mass destruction and Syria must end its support for terrorism.

In a strongly worded speech to the pro-Israel lobby, Powell bracketed Iran and Syria with Iraq as promoters of terrorism and suggested they faced grave consequences.

His tough words matched those last week of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and served to signal unity within the Bush administration on the anti-terror front.

Both Iran and Syria have shown no inclination to bend to the Bush administration's growing rhetorical campaign against them.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said Sunday that "Syria has a national interest in the expulsion of the invaders from Iraq."

Rumsfeld on Friday accused Syria of supplying military technology to Iraq, a charge Syria denied. He also said the United States would hold Iran responsible for the entrance of Iran-sponsored forces into Iraq.

Carrying the threat a step forward, Powell on Sunday demanded that Iran "stop its support for terrorism against Israel" and said Tehran also "must stop its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the ability to produce them."

Turning to the regime in Damascus, Powell said "Syria now faces a critical choice" of whether to "continue its direct support for terrorism in the dying days" of President Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq.

"Syria bears responsibility for its choices and consequences," Powell said sternly at the 44th annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

And Powell said, to wide applause from the heavily Jewish audience, "we will keep his weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East."

Stepping into a growing debate, Powell, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, endorsed the Bush administration's current war plan, which has encountered some criticism as the drive against Saddam has slowed.

"I have total confidence in the plan and total confidence in General (Tommy) Franks and those carrying out the plan," he said.

Powell renewed the Bush administration's support for establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2005, and said the drive would be stepped up once Mahmoud Abbas was confirmed as prime minister.

The longtime lieutenant of Yasser Arafat has at times spoken in support of all measures against Israel and at other times appeared critical of attacks on civilians.

On Sunday, Powell urged Israel to make peace with the Palestinian Authority, saying "Israel's security requires peace with its neighbors." He also renewed President Bush's call for a halt to Jewish home-building on the West Bank and Gaza, which drew a mixed response of mild applause and a few boos.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom followed Powell's speech with his own condemnation of Iran as a sponsor of terrorism. He said Iran was behind the bloody attacks in 1992 on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and in 1994 on a Jewish center in capital of Argentina.

"We will work closely with the United States to oppose terror," the minister said.

On the conflict with the Palestinians, Shalom was cautious. "We need a true Palestinian partner, one who will stop the violence once and for all," he said.
AP - March 31st, 2003
FR link

The British Mandate for Palestine
... the Balfour Declaration applied. This has remained a grievance with the Zionist side,
but it should be remembered that the area to the east of the river Jordan ...
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The British Mandate
... Mandate for Palestine" the area that is today Israel and Jordan became the ... of the
British Mandate incorporated the language of the Balfour Declaration and were ...
www.palestinefacts.org/pf_ww1_british_mandate.php - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

The British Mandate: Overview
... In 1921, Britain took the 91,000 square kilometers of the Palestine Mandate east
of the Jordan River, and created Trans-Jordan (later the Arab country of Jordan ...
www.palestinefacts.org/pf_mandate_overview.php - 13k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.palestinefacts.org ]

Ask Jeeves: Search Results for "British Mandate"
... 1. The British Mandate for Palestine The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine,
1922 ... israel.htm 8. Modern History Sourcebook: The Balfour Declaration (1917 ...
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File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
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... This is why both the Balfour Declaration and the League of Nations Mandate charged
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The British Mandate With Arab help, the British took ...
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((((((growl)))))

Every time I see this guys name, I read it as a greeting.

Shalom: Road map needs to be changed (Israel)

Shalom. Relax. The "roadmap" will disappear with the "palestinians" ;).

Special Dispatch Series - No. 488

March 30, 2003 No.488

An Interview with Bashar Al-Assad: "The Arab Defense Agreement Should Be Implemented"; "As Long as Israel Exists It Will Constitute a threat"; "Israel Will Not Be a Legitimate State Even After the Peace"

Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad, granted an interview to the pro-Syrian daily Al-Safir (Lebanon). The interviewer was the editor Talal Salman. The following are excerpts:
'Israel Will Not Be a Legitimate State Even If Peace Is Accomplished'
Assad: "…They [the Americans] removed their masks and said that they wanted oil and that they wanted to re-draw the map of the region in accordance with the Israeli interests. Israel has a vested interest in dividing Iraq into small ethnic, national and ethnic mini-countries, so that Israel could enjoy legitimacy. There are countries in the Middle East with diverse nationalities, but they have social and historic cohesiveness. Despite the ethnic diversity within each nation, the social fabric of the region by and large is one. On the other hand, the [social] structure in Israel is an anomaly. It is a country with one characteristic, which is a religious characteristic. Its democracy stems from this characteristic. It is not a democracy based on the state's boundaries. Therefore, it is inconceivable that Israel will become a legitimate state even if the peace process is implemented, because its structure deviates from the region's norm, and maybe from the whole world…"
'Israel Controls the American Administration, Therefore Re-Designing the Region Will Serve Its Interests'
Assad: "Israeli interests are not necessarily in harmony with the American interests. America is interested in re-arranging the region as it sees fit. That could possibly be by creating large or small countries, but Israel is interested in dividing the region on racial, religious, or ethnic basis. The Israeli lobby has clout in the U.S., which means that re-arranging the region and controlling its resources one way or another, will serve Israel through its control over the American administration."
"…When we err in understanding the events of 1948, we [also] err in understanding the truth about the war against Iraq. When we analyze this war in a materialistic way and ask when is it going to end and who will be the winner and the loser, it means that we do not see the endgame. Despite the fact that the country with the endgame, i.e. the U.S. has stated it, there are those who refuse to see the truth…"
Lebanon as a Model
Assad: "…We, in Syria, our point of view stems from our experience. Our experience in Lebanon is known. We believe that Lebanon has been the first real experience for all the Arabs. There were those who said that Lebanon's strength is its weakness, but it was proven later that Lebanon's strength was in its resistance and perseverance."
"When Lebanon started its resistance it was a small and divided country. When the resistance started, there were well known agents – the South Lebanon Army. There were those who helped in conquering Beirut, and there were those who worked hard to sign the agreement of May 17, [with Israel] and then continued to act against Lebanon's interests. Despite that, Israel was defeated. It is even more so when it comes to Iraq, which is a large Arab country with scientific, material, and human resources and is able to accomplish, at the least, what Lebanon accomplished, and more."
Resistance in Iraq
Question: "Were you surprised by the Iraqi resistance?"
Assad: "No, not at all. Based on our experience, I was not surprised… No doubt that the U.S. is a super-power capable of conquering a relatively small country, but is it able to control it? The U.S. and Britain are incapable of controlling all of Iraq. There will be much stronger resistance. All this will expose the lies in the claims of some Arab officials, who intentionally or unintentionally tried to see or depict the reality in a different way than the present situation…"
'The Arab Defense Agreement Should Be Implemented'
Assad: "The logical thing is to implement the Arab Defense Agreement. According to this agreement, if an Arab country is invaded, the rest of the Arab countries should defend it. Instead of implementing this agreement, there were those who facilitated the aggression, while neighboring countries refused to do so."
"…Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that there are ways to resist. The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it. The most significant indicator that there is no disaster in Iraq is the fact that there is no exodus [of refugees]. The first lesson that the Iraqi citizen had learned is that displacement and leaving [home] last forever. Therefore the solution is resistance. This was the first lesson learned from Lebanon, and after that from the Intifada. There is no disaster, because there is no exodus. The problem is not the occupation, but whether the people are willing to resist it or not... Today, the Iraqi citizen sees that America is coming and wants to occupy his country and kill him, and he is willing to experience for himself what happened in Palestine… I believe that the situation will be much harder for the Americans and the British."
'As Long as Israel Exists, Syria Is Threatened and Is Ready for Confrontation'
Question: "Does Syria feel threatened by this war?"
Assad: "As long as Israel exists, the threat exists. As long as there is aggression against an Arab country, and as long as there is a war close to our borders, the danger continues. Anyone who does not worry in such circumstances, does not see reality. Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation… If the issue is just war, the military logic says that we are weak in comparison to a super-power. But the issue has to do with land, which is our land. You in Lebanon, your power is no match to Israel. Israel, militarily, is more powerful than you and maybe it is more powerful than all the Arab countries, or most of them. But the important thing is faith. Is there an equality of power between America and Iraq? Definitely not; however, the Iraqi people are standing fast and are defending their land courageously."
Question: "But, isn't the American occupation of an Arab country which borders with Syria a threat to Syria?"
Assad: "That is why I say that it is natural that we are worried. It is natural in every sense."
Question: "Are you sure that you are capable of dealing with the danger or this threat?"
Assad: "Our conviction stems from our faith in the justice of our position and our nation, and is the result of our experience."
There Is a Chance That Syria Will Become the Target of an American War
Question: "It has been said that war plans against Iraq were hatched before 9/11. The list of countries included Afghanistan then Iraq, Syria, and Iran. In the new plan of aggression Syria is on one of the lists."
Assad: "Even if they had not included Syria in this plan, the probability was always there. That means that we are not going to wait until they include Syria in the plan and declare that or not, and then we could say that the war has expanded or not. I said that during the [Arab] summit meeting and I talked about the occupation of Baghdad in 1258 at the hands of Holago [the Mongolian]. But this time some Arab capitals will stand beside Baghdad. When I talk about some Arab capitals, it does not make sense to exclude Syria, which is the closest and at the heart of battles against invaders, because [Syria] is the heart of Arabism…"
'Israel, By Nature, Is Based On Treachery'
Question: "The Israeli threats against Syria, Lebanon, and Hizbullah continue, especially these days. What do you make of that especially in regard to the opinion that under the guise of the war against Iraq, Lebanon – and especially Hizbullah – will be targeted?"
Assad: "These threats continue regardless of the war. It would be a mistake to link anything that Israel does to a certain circumstance. And it is a mistake to feel comfortable in any circumstance just because Israel did not act on it."
"…None of us and none of the Arabs trust Israel. It is natural that we should always expect an Israeli attack, even when it does not threaten. It should be known that Israel is based on treachery. This is a point to be considered thoroughly. We are dealing with treachery and threats, which accompanied the establishment of Israel. Since its very inception, Israel has been a threat. It is the Israeli nature, and for that Israel was established. Based on this understanding of Israel's nature and role, we should deal with the possibility of protracted aggression…Israel does not care about the international public opinion. The U.S. is unable to reign it in; to the contrary, the Israelis are the ones who control [the U.S.] now through their lobby. The most important issue, as far as we are concerned, is that our position is just, and we should explain it… Secondly, we should prepare ourselves to be ready to deal with any Israeli attack. This point does not need any analysis. This is what we have done in Syria throughout history…"
Syrian - U.S. Relations
Question: "What about the Syrian - U.S. relations at this point, how do you describe them?"
Assad: "They were always fluctuating, but not because of Syria. As far as we are concerned, we Syria have not changed. As I said before, our starting points are the principles and Syria's interests in its relations with any foreign country. When our interests matched, the Americans have been good to us, and when the interests differed, they wanted us to mold ourselves to them, which we refused."
"On the issue of terrorism, our interests [and those of the U.S.] matched. We are basically against terrorism, and on 9/11 they learned a lesson, and according to them they wanted to combat terrorism. We said [to them] that we welcomed that, that if you wanted cooperation our position was known and clear. We declared our cooperation [publicly]; we did not do it clandestinely. In other cases, our points of view differ and we do not follow their path…"
Question: "Are there attempts to 'twist arms?'"Assad: "I cannot describe it as such. There are attempts to push Syria into a direction that contradicts its present one. These attempts are made through statements, official demands, and hints through third parties. All this does not interest us. Our position is the way it is…"[1]

[1]Al-Safir (Lebanon), March 27, 2003.

MEMRI link
FR Thread

""We expect that after the road map is published, the first things they [the Palestinians] must do is halt the terror and the incitement," the foreign minister said. If the conditions are met, Israel would be a "true partner, exploring all roads to peace," he added."

Of course, if the Palestinians stop the terror and the incitement, won't Israel have achieved everything it wants? Why would they then negotiate anything? And if the violence resumes then, it proves for the Israelis that the Palestinians don't really want peace. They really seem to have created a Catch-22 situation for the Palestinians. All they can do is hope that the US will actually put some real pressure on the Israelis for once.

In initial drafts of the road map - jointly sponsored by the Quartet, made up of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - cessation of terrorism would precede demands that Israel reciprocate with curbs on settlement-building.

Shalom, what's the big deal, buddy? We've been down this road before. File this under "Ain't gonna happen".

Of course, if the Palestinians stop the terror and the incitement, won't Israel have achieved everything it wants? Why would they then negotiate anything? And if the violence resumes then, it proves for the Israelis that the Palestinians don't really want peace. They really seem to have created a Catch-22 situation for the Palestinians. All they can do is hope that the US will actually put some real pressure on the Israelis for once.

Why should the Israelis negotiate even another pebble to a culture of terror?
There is already a palestinian homeland, Jordan, as declared by the League of Nations Mandate of 1922. In that peace deal, the Jews gave up 78% of the Transjordan to the fictitious palestinians in return for the first of many betrayals.
Pressure on Israel? It's not our business to put pressure on Israel to risk national suicide; we should butt out.

On the conflict with the Palestinians, Shalom was cautious. "We need a true Palestinian partner, one who will stop the violence once and for all," he said.

I doubt such a Palestinian exists.

Thanks for the heads up!

Israel has surrendered territory in advance of cessation of violence acceding to previous peace plans. She knows better than to trust her "peace partners". Exactly as you have described, Heyworth, but applying to the other side.

I have the feeling that the road map is a concession to Tony Blair to buy him some approval in Europe. Israel is not a voucher but a loyal friend of the United States and should be treated as such.


Shalom: Road map needs to be changed

By Haaretz Staff and Agencies



Israel is requesting changes to the internationally endorsed road map for Middle East peace, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday following talks with U.S. President George W. Bush and other senior White House officials. Palestinian Authority minister Saeb Erekat slammed the call for changes, accusing Israel of rejecting the entire plan. Speaking to Army Radio, Shalom laid down a number of conditions for the resumption of talks with the Palestinians, and said that "the road map needs to be adapted." Haaretz has reported that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is requesting that some 100 revisions be made to the plan. The hardliners in his government have also ruled out any acceptance of a Palestinian state, but Sharon has voiced conditional approval of future statehood. Amid high-level Bush administration calls for a future freeze on settlements as a part of the plan, Shalom said in Washington yesterday that Israel would demand a halt to terrorism as a precondition to any form of a peace process with the Palestinians. "We expect that after the road map is published, the first things they [the Palestinians] must do is halt the terror and the incitement," the foreign minister said. If the conditions are met, Israel would be a "true partner, exploring all roads to peace," he added. In initial drafts of the road map - jointly sponsored by the Quartet, made up of th United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - cessation of terrorism would precede demands that Israel reciprocate with curbs on settlement-building. But later drafts are said to hold that the two elements should proceed simultaneously. Bush has promised that the full plan, centered on the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005, will be made public soon, but has specified no timetable. The plan is likely to be made public in about two weeks, immediately after the inauguration of Palestinian Authority prime minister-elect Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Erekat said Israel's demands for changes amount to a rejection of the entire plan. "We had hoped that Mr. Shalom would have announced Israel's full commitment and acceptance of the road map. In reality he actually announced Israel's rejection," Erekat said. Labor Party Chairman Amram Mitzna said he suspected the government was playing for time. "This is a recipe to say yes, while in reality it is saying no," Mitzna told Army Radio.

Special Dispatch Series - No. 488
March 30, 2003	No.488

An Interview with Bashar Al-Assad: "The Arab Defense Agreement Should Be Implemented"; "As Long as Israel Exists It Will Constitute a threat"; "Israel Will Not Be a Legitimate State Even After the Peace" *Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad, granted an interview to the pro-Syrian daily Al-Safir (Lebanon). The interviewer was the editor Talal Salman.** The following are excerpts:* 'Israel Will Not Be a Legitimate State Even If Peace Is Accomplished' Assad: "…They [the Americans] removed their masks and said that they wanted oil and that they wanted to re-draw the map of the region in accordance with the Israeli interests. Israel has a vested interest in dividing Iraq into small ethnic, national and ethnic mini-countries, so that Israel could enjoy legitimacy. There are countries in the Middle East with diverse nationalities, but they have social and historic cohesiveness. Despite the ethnic diversity within each nation, the social fabric of the region by and large is one. On the other hand, the [social] structure in Israel is an anomaly. It is a country with one characteristic, which is a religious characteristic. Its democracy stems from this characteristic. It is not a democracy based on the state's boundaries. Therefore, it is inconceivable that Israel will become a legitimate state even if the peace process is implemented, because its structure deviates from the region's norm, and maybe from the whole world…" 'Israel Controls the American Administration, Therefore Re-Designing the Region Will Serve Its Interests' Assad: "Israeli interests are not necessarily in harmony with the American interests. America is interested in re-arranging the region as it sees fit. That could possibly be by creating large or small countries, but Israel is interested in dividing the region on racial, religious, or ethnic basis. The Israeli lobby has clout in the U.S., which means that re-arranging the region and controlling its resources one way or another, will serve Israel through its control over the American administration." "…When we err in understanding the events of 1948, we [also] err in understanding the truth about the war against Iraq. When we analyze this war in a materialistic way and ask when is it going to end and who will be the winner and the loser, it means that we do not see the endgame. Despite the fact that the country with the endgame, i.e. the U.S. has stated it, there are those who refuse to see the truth…" Lebanon as a Model Assad: "…We, in Syria, our point of view stems from our experience. Our experience in Lebanon is known. We believe that Lebanon has been the first real experience for all the Arabs. There were those who said that Lebanon's strength is its weakness, but it was proven later that Lebanon's strength was in its resistance and perseverance." "When Lebanon started its resistance it was a small and divided country. When the resistance started, there were well known agents – the South Lebanon Army. There were those who helped in conquering Beirut, and there were those who worked hard to sign the agreement of May 17, [with Israel] and then continued to act against Lebanon's interests. Despite that, Israel was defeated. It is even more so when it comes to Iraq, which is a large Arab country with scientific, material, and human resources and is able to accomplish, at the least, what Lebanon accomplished, and more." Resistance in Iraq *Question:* "Were you surprised by the Iraqi resistance?" Assad: "No, not at all. Based on our experience, I was not surprised… No doubt that the U.S. is a super-power capable of conquering a relatively small country, but is it able to control it? The U.S. and Britain are incapable of controlling all of Iraq. There will be much stronger resistance. All this will expose the lies in the claims of some Arab officials, who intentionally or unintentionally tried to see or depict the reality in a different way than the present situation…" 'The Arab Defense Agreement Should Be Implemented' Assad: "The logical thing is to implement the Arab Defense Agreement. According to this agreement, if an Arab country is invaded, the rest of the Arab countries should defend it. Instead of implementing this agreement, there were those who facilitated the aggression, while neighboring countries refused to do so." "…Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that there are ways to resist. The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it. The most significant indicator that there is no disaster in Iraq is the fact that there is no exodus [of refugees]. The first lesson that the Iraqi citizen had learned is that displacement and leaving [home] last forever. Therefore the solution is resistance. This was the first lesson learned from Lebanon, and after that from the Intifada. There is no disaster, because there is no exodus. The problem is not the occupation, but whether the people are willing to resist it or not... Today, the Iraqi citizen sees that America is coming and wants to occupy his country and kill him, and he is willing to experience for himself what happened in Palestine… I believe that the situation will be much harder for the Americans and the British." 'As Long as Israel Exists, Syria Is Threatened and Is Ready for Confrontation' Question: "Does Syria feel threatened by this war?" Assad: "As long as Israel exists, the threat exists. As long as there is aggression against an Arab country, and as long as there is a war close to our borders, the danger continues. Anyone who does not worry in such circumstances, does not see reality. Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation… If the issue is just war, the military logic says that we are weak in comparison to a super-power. But the issue has to do with land, which is our land. You in Lebanon, your power is no match to Israel. Israel, militarily, is more powerful than you and maybe it is more powerful than all the Arab countries, or most of them. But the important thing is faith. Is there an equality of power between America and Iraq? Definitely not; however, the Iraqi people are standing fast and are defending their land courageously." Question: "But, isn't the American occupation of an Arab country which borders with Syria a threat to Syria?" Assad: "That is why I say that it is natural that we are worried. It is natural in every sense." Question: "Are you sure that you are capable of dealing with the danger or this threat?" Assad: "Our conviction stems from our faith in the justice of our position and our nation, and is the result of our experience." There Is a Chance That Syria Will Become the Target of an American War Question: "It has been said that war plans against Iraq were hatched before 9/11. The list of countries included Afghanistan then Iraq, Syria, and Iran. In the new plan of aggression Syria is on one of the lists." Assad: "Even if they had not included Syria in this plan, the probability was always there. That means that we are not going to wait until they include Syria in the plan and declare that or not, and then we could say that the war has expanded or not. I said that during the [Arab] summit meeting and I talked about the occupation of Baghdad in 1258 at the hands of Holago [the Mongolian]. But this time some Arab capitals will stand beside Baghdad. When I talk about some Arab capitals, it does not make sense to exclude Syria, which is the closest and at the heart of battles against invaders, because [Syria] is the heart of Arabism…" 'Israel, By Nature, Is Based On Treachery' Question: "The Israeli threats against Syria, Lebanon, and Hizbullah continue, especially these days. What do you make of that especially in regard to the opinion that under the guise of the war against Iraq, Lebanon – and especially Hizbullah – will be targeted?" Assad: "These threats continue regardless of the war. It would be a mistake to link anything that Israel does to a certain circumstance. And it is a mistake to feel comfortable in any circumstance just because Israel did not act on it." "…None of us and none of the Arabs trust Israel. It is natural that we should always expect an Israeli attack, even when it does not threaten. It should be known that Israel is based on treachery. This is a point to be considered thoroughly. We are dealing with treachery and threats, which accompanied the establishment of Israel. Since its very inception, Israel has been a threat. It is the Israeli nature, and for that Israel was established. Based on this understanding of Israel's nature and role, we should deal with the possibility of protracted aggression…Israel does not care about the international public opinion. The U.S. is unable to reign it in; to the contrary, the Israelis are the ones who control [the U.S.] now through their lobby. The most important issue, as far as we are concerned, is that our position is just, and we should explain it… Secondly, we should prepare ourselves to be ready to deal with any Israeli attack. This point does not need any analysis. This is what we have done in Syria throughout history…" Syrian - U.S. Relations Question: "What about the Syrian - U.S. relations at this point, how do you describe them?" Assad: "They were always fluctuating, but not because of Syria. As far as we are concerned, we Syria have not changed. As I said before, our starting points are the principles and Syria's interests in its relations with any foreign country. When our interests matched, the Americans have been good to us, and when the interests differed, they wanted us to mold ourselves to them, which we refused." "On the issue of terrorism, our interests [and those of the U.S.] matched. We are basically against terrorism, and on 9/11 they learned a lesson, and according to them they wanted to combat terrorism. We said [to them] that we welcomed that, that if you wanted cooperation our position was known and clear. We declared our cooperation [publicly]; we did not do it clandestinely. In other cases, our points of view differ and we do not follow their path…" Question: "Are there attempts to 'twist arms?'"Assad: "I cannot describe it as such. There are attempts to push Syria into a direction that contradicts its present one. These attempts are made through statements, official demands, and hints through third parties. All this does not interest us. Our position is the way it is…"[1] [1]Al-Safir (Lebanon), March 27, 2003.