Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom launched a new diplomatic campaign aimed at bringing an end to the often-brutal military occupation of Lebanon, by Syria.
Shalom made his announcement at the weekly cabinet meeting. “The time has come to put an end to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, which has lasted since 1976,“ said Shalom. “Syria is an occupying power in Lebanon, and it robs it of its resources. The time has come for the countries of the world to stop ignoring this and deal with this reality.”
Shalom has been raising the issue with world leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downing. At the Davos Conference two weeks ago Shalom said to Annan: “Why is the U.N. indifferent to the fact that Lebanon is under Syrian occupation? Lebanon must be freed and returned to the Lebanese.” He has now issued a called to the entire international community to stop turning a blind eye to Syria's control of Lebanon.
The Foreign Ministry has adopted the position as a major talking point and Israel's diplomatic representatives abroad have been instructed to bring Syria’s occupation to the attention of officials in the countries they serve in.
The Ministry said, though, that it does not plan to disseminate written material on the matter due to “budgetary problems.”
Jane’s Intelligence Digest, a prominent defense industry publication, reported that the United States is considering attacking Hizbullah militant bases in southern Lebanon and Somalia. The report said benefits of such a move include, “pressuring Damascus into ending its support for Palestinian terror groups residing in the country, disarming Syria of weapons of mass destruction, pressuring Syria into withdrawing from Lebanon, and ousting the Syrian regime and crushing Hizbullah.”
Syria has recently entered the radar of America’s war on terror. The Syria Accountability Act was approved by U.S. President George Bush in December allowing the U.S. to impose economic sanctions on Syria if it does not end its support for terror organizations.
Shalom made his announcement at the weekly cabinet meeting. “The time has come to put an end to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, which has lasted since 1976,“ said Shalom. “Syria is an occupying power in Lebanon, and it robs it of its resources. The time has come for the countries of the world to stop ignoring this and deal with this reality.”
Shalom has been raising the issue with world leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downing. At the Davos Conference two weeks ago Shalom said to Annan: “Why is the U.N. indifferent to the fact that Lebanon is under Syrian occupation? Lebanon must be freed and returned to the Lebanese.” He has now issued a called to the entire international community to stop turning a blind eye to Syria's control of Lebanon.
The Foreign Ministry has adopted the position as a major talking point and Israel's diplomatic representatives abroad have been instructed to bring Syria’s occupation to the attention of officials in the countries they serve in.
The Ministry said, though, that it does not plan to disseminate written material on the matter due to “budgetary problems.”
Jane’s Intelligence Digest, a prominent defense industry publication, reported that the United States is considering attacking Hizbullah militant bases in southern Lebanon and Somalia. The report said benefits of such a move include, “pressuring Damascus into ending its support for Palestinian terror groups residing in the country, disarming Syria of weapons of mass destruction, pressuring Syria into withdrawing from Lebanon, and ousting the Syrian regime and crushing Hizbullah.”
Syria has recently entered the radar of America’s war on terror. The Syria Accountability Act was approved by U.S. President George Bush in December allowing the U.S. to impose economic sanctions on Syria if it does not end its support for terror organizations.