Prime Minister Sharon sent a message to the White House, only hours after the bus attacks in Be'er Sheva on Tuesday that cost 16 lives, that Syria is responsible - and will pay the price.
Israel believes that orders for the double suicide bombing attacks originated in Syria, specifically in the Hamas headquarters of Khaled Mashal. Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon will present the proof later this week; Hamas appears on the United States' list of outlawed terror organizations. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom will travel to Europe and explain the situation to European leaders.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz hinted yesterday at Israel's strategy vis-a-vis Syria. "The Hizbullah activity in Lebanon, with the aid of Iran and the Hamas in Damascus, is very intensive, and from there originate many of the terror attacks against Israel. We cannot detach what happened in Be'er Sheva from that which is going on in Syria and Lebanon."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon was more direct: "We have to 'take care' of the terror-supporting elements, whether they are in the Palestinian Authority, Hizbullah in Lebanon, or the terror headquarters operating in Damascus under Syrian authorization. When we deal with terrorism, it will be with all its components."
"The fact that Hamas is operating from Syria will not grant it immunity," said Raanan Gissin, Prime Minister Sharon's foreign press advisor.
Almost a year ago, only several hours after the deadly Maxim Restaurant terror attack in Haifa that killed 15 people, the Israel Air Force bombed a Syrian army training camp 15 kilometers northwest of Damascus - Israel's first attack deep inside Syrian territory since the Yom Kippur War 30 years before. The targeted Iranian-supported camp provided advanced training to terrorists and taught them to establish terrorist infrastructures in PA areas.
Israel believes that orders for the double suicide bombing attacks originated in Syria, specifically in the Hamas headquarters of Khaled Mashal. Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon will present the proof later this week; Hamas appears on the United States' list of outlawed terror organizations. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom will travel to Europe and explain the situation to European leaders.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz hinted yesterday at Israel's strategy vis-a-vis Syria. "The Hizbullah activity in Lebanon, with the aid of Iran and the Hamas in Damascus, is very intensive, and from there originate many of the terror attacks against Israel. We cannot detach what happened in Be'er Sheva from that which is going on in Syria and Lebanon."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon was more direct: "We have to 'take care' of the terror-supporting elements, whether they are in the Palestinian Authority, Hizbullah in Lebanon, or the terror headquarters operating in Damascus under Syrian authorization. When we deal with terrorism, it will be with all its components."
"The fact that Hamas is operating from Syria will not grant it immunity," said Raanan Gissin, Prime Minister Sharon's foreign press advisor.
Almost a year ago, only several hours after the deadly Maxim Restaurant terror attack in Haifa that killed 15 people, the Israel Air Force bombed a Syrian army training camp 15 kilometers northwest of Damascus - Israel's first attack deep inside Syrian territory since the Yom Kippur War 30 years before. The targeted Iranian-supported camp provided advanced training to terrorists and taught them to establish terrorist infrastructures in PA areas.