Israeli Envoy: Syrian Build-up - the Strongest Since
1973 War
by Hillel Fendel
(IsraelNN.com) Israel's Ambassador in Washington says Syria is
developing its most serious threat against Israel since it attacked
Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
"We see Syria developing a very serious threat on the northern
border," Ambassador Sallai Meridor told journalists in Washington
on Wednesday. He said the threat is manifest in military activity,
training, great investments in military equipment - and the
build-up of a large arsenal of Scud missiles.
"In the past," Meridor said, "the assumption was that the Syrians'
tanks and air force were not among the most advanced. Now, however,
we are concerned that they might think that with a large arsenal of
rockets that can reach everywhere in Israel, they have the
capacity... to threaten us."
The last time Israel's north-eastern neighbor threatened Israel so
fiercely build-up was the 1973 Yom Kippur War. That war was set off
when Syria and Egypt simultaneously attacked Israel on the holiest
day of the Jewish year.
"We hope they do not have offensive intentions," Meridor said, "but
we cannot be sure." The ambassador said that Israel is attempting
to pass "calming messages" to Syria, but that Syria continues to
"thwart attempts to create attempts to create an atmosphere that
will promote peace."
Syria has demanded for 40 years that Israel relinquish control over
the Golan Heights - the mountainous area from which Syria often
launched attacks against Israeli communities below until Israel
captured the Golan in the 1967 Six Day War.
Long one of Israel's most implacable enemies, Syria continues to
provide assistance, money and training to Hamas, Hizbullah, and
other terrorist groups.