Shalom: peace with Syria is a strategic option

The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday that "peace with Syrian is a strategic option for Israel." He told the Israeli public radio; that peace with Syria "will also bring in peace with Lebanon, and this will eventually facilitate the negotiations with the Palestinians."

But he added that Syria continues providing Hizbullah with weapons via Damascus airport and the port of Lattakia and permits terrorist organizations organizing training camps on its lands. Besides Hamas headquarters are still open in Damascus."

Shalom continued "in case the Syrian President ( Bashar al-Assad) stops the terrorist activity and responds to international demands, Israel has to start negotiations with him in order to reach a peace agreement," noting that "President al-Assad cannot hold the stick from both ends. The seriousness of his intention will be proved if he deals with such said issues."