"Every war creates political opportunity," Amir Peretz declared on Tuesday. "We must renew dialogue with the Palestinians and Lebanon, and prepare for talks with Syria as well." According to the defense minister, because Israel's enemies now understand that "by force they can not defeat us," this is the moment to open negotiations with them.
DM Peretz made his comments at a Bar Mitzvah ceremony for children of fallen IDF soldiers. He told the assembled orphans that the sacrifices of the soldiers who fell in Lebanon were not futile, "for without the operational efforts, we would not have been able to reach the [current] diplomatic achievement."
On Tuesday morning, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said:
"Israel has been trying for decades to gain acceptance in the region. What Israel should know is that every generation has more hatred toward it than the generation before. Israel leaves us no choice but to hate it."
Speaking to the Fourth General Assembly of Syrian Journalists, Assad declared that future generations of Arabs will thoroughly crush Israel. His statements were greeted by the audience rising to its feet and cheering, "With spirit and with blood, we will defend you, O Bashar!"
Assad also praised the Hizbullah terrorist organization for its "achievements" in the war with Israel. Among those achievements, according to the Syrian president, was the foiling of "the US plans to establish a 'New Middle East' in the region."
Referring to Syrian claims to Israel's Golan Heights, Assad said, "We made a strategic choice for peace, but we do have other means to regain our rights... The true path to peace is negotiation, but if that is not possible, then resistance is the only way." He said resistance could be cultural and political, and could become military when needed.
In the wake of Assad's speech this morning, Germany's foreign minister canceled a planned trip to Syria. Frank-Walter Steinmeier was set to fly to Jordan and then to Syria on a diplomatic mission; however, Assad's speech was a "negative contribution that is not in any way justified in view of the current challenges and opportunities in the Middle East," he said.
Syria could regain the confidence it has lost in the international community by pursuing a positive agenda, according to Steinmeier. "The speech today," he said, "goes in the opposite direction."
Assad's Tuesday morning speech mirrors comments he made, one day previously, to the Egyptian weekly Al-Usbu'a. The Syrian leader reiterated his country's intention to "liberate" the Golan Heights, adding that the chance of a real peace with Israel was low.
Assad also took the opportunity to chide the Lebanese government for insisting, after almost 20 years, on the removal of Syrian forces from its territory in April 2005. He accused Lebanese leaders of deliberately trying to weaken Hizbullah and other forces he called "nationalist."
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni said Tuesday that Syria will have to make a choice whether to continue its support of Hizbullah attacks or to allow Lebanon to build a strong future. "Syria will need to decide where it stands," she said. "Lebanon is supposed to take off in a different direction without them, or they can continue wielding influence [there] and lead an open war front with Hizbullah."
Regarding Hizbullah or any other forces that may try to harm IDF soldiers in the field, Defense Minister Peretz threatened that they would be met with Israel's full power. He also said that Israel would insist that the United Nations forces in southern Lebanon be enabled to enforce the current cease-fire terms between Israel and Lebanon.
DM Peretz made his comments at a Bar Mitzvah ceremony for children of fallen IDF soldiers. He told the assembled orphans that the sacrifices of the soldiers who fell in Lebanon were not futile, "for without the operational efforts, we would not have been able to reach the [current] diplomatic achievement."
On Tuesday morning, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said:
"Israel has been trying for decades to gain acceptance in the region. What Israel should know is that every generation has more hatred toward it than the generation before. Israel leaves us no choice but to hate it."
Speaking to the Fourth General Assembly of Syrian Journalists, Assad declared that future generations of Arabs will thoroughly crush Israel. His statements were greeted by the audience rising to its feet and cheering, "With spirit and with blood, we will defend you, O Bashar!"
Assad also praised the Hizbullah terrorist organization for its "achievements" in the war with Israel. Among those achievements, according to the Syrian president, was the foiling of "the US plans to establish a 'New Middle East' in the region."
Referring to Syrian claims to Israel's Golan Heights, Assad said, "We made a strategic choice for peace, but we do have other means to regain our rights... The true path to peace is negotiation, but if that is not possible, then resistance is the only way." He said resistance could be cultural and political, and could become military when needed.
In the wake of Assad's speech this morning, Germany's foreign minister canceled a planned trip to Syria. Frank-Walter Steinmeier was set to fly to Jordan and then to Syria on a diplomatic mission; however, Assad's speech was a "negative contribution that is not in any way justified in view of the current challenges and opportunities in the Middle East," he said.
Syria could regain the confidence it has lost in the international community by pursuing a positive agenda, according to Steinmeier. "The speech today," he said, "goes in the opposite direction."
Assad's Tuesday morning speech mirrors comments he made, one day previously, to the Egyptian weekly Al-Usbu'a. The Syrian leader reiterated his country's intention to "liberate" the Golan Heights, adding that the chance of a real peace with Israel was low.
Assad also took the opportunity to chide the Lebanese government for insisting, after almost 20 years, on the removal of Syrian forces from its territory in April 2005. He accused Lebanese leaders of deliberately trying to weaken Hizbullah and other forces he called "nationalist."
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni said Tuesday that Syria will have to make a choice whether to continue its support of Hizbullah attacks or to allow Lebanon to build a strong future. "Syria will need to decide where it stands," she said. "Lebanon is supposed to take off in a different direction without them, or they can continue wielding influence [there] and lead an open war front with Hizbullah."
Regarding Hizbullah or any other forces that may try to harm IDF soldiers in the field, Defense Minister Peretz threatened that they would be met with Israel's full power. He also said that Israel would insist that the United Nations forces in southern Lebanon be enabled to enforce the current cease-fire terms between Israel and Lebanon.