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Assafir www.assafir.com 19 March 2007

Chirac suggested to “Israel” invading Syria and overthrowing the Assad regime

By Helmi Mousa - Translated by: Adib S. Kawar

Friday 23 March 2007

“Maarive” wrote Sunday 19 March that during last summer’s “Israeli” war on Lebanon French President, Jack Chirac, made an unprecedented suggestion to “Israel” to invade Syria and overthrow the Assad regime. “Israeli” sources said that was due to Chirac’s hate to President Assad, and his aversion to the Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Maarive added that Chirac proposed to “Israel” during the early days of the war, to invade Syria and over through Assad, with his full support in the war. As per the French suggestion, “Israel” was supposed to blame Syria for the confrontation on the northern border of “Israel”, and consider it as the main supporter of Hezbollah in the region, thus the “Israeli” army will invade it to over throw Assad’s regime.

As per the French proposal “Israel’s” activities in Lebanon should be limited to strike the party’s targets, and limit its scope of the strikes on Beirut, as many of the Lebanese carry French citizenship. At the same time “Israel” Was supposed to invade Syria as being the guilty party for the uncontained conditions on the Lebanese “Israeli” border.

The same letter mentioned if “Israel” decided to invade Syria and topple the regime, it will receive France’s unlimited and continued support, both in the Security Council as well as within the European Union especially as it enjoys influence within its subsidiaries. Over and above France’s support shall not be declared, but it shall find it channels effective support to international resolutions and declarations, which gives “Israel” a scope to maneuver during the battle with Syria, in addition to France’s avoidance of interference that may obstruct “Israel’s” army attacks against the Syrian.

High “Israeli” sources told “Maarive” that Chirac’s proposition sprang from his clear and well known enmity to Assad’s regime, which is along with matters all based on Syria’s claimed role in the assassination of Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon, which had intimate, personal and professional relations with Chirac. The paper added that Chirac’s proposition reflected his lack of understanding of the battle field that was just opened in the Middle East.

Important political sources said that Chirac worked contrary to all international and local expectations, which was supposed, to be clear that “Israeli’ Prime Minister Olmert was only interested in aiming a centered limited military strike against Lebanon, without also drawing “Israel” into a confrontation with Syria. A high political source told us that, “The French practically told us: What do you want from Lebanon? Go to Syria. It is the source of problems. The French wanted from the “Israeli” army to do by proxy its dirty work against Syria on their behalf”. As per another political source, “Chirac did not know, in general, what are the “Israeli” interests. Israel was not looking for reasons to attack Syria. The moment he understood that we are looking for the opportunity to end the war, and not to expend it, he then stopped forwarding his messages to us, he went back to our usual relations”. Also as per the same high source, “The United States, as per all expectations, would not have complained if we decided to invade Syria during the early days of the war”. Maarive added that, “Chirac condemned Hezbollah for kidnapping the two ‘Israeli’ soldiers, but at the same time he also criticized ‘Israel’ claiming that its operations against Lebanon “were unbalance, and should be questioned whether its aim was to destroy Lebanon?” But it is clear now that parallel to these declarations , Chirac was at the same time exchanging messages with Tel Aviv on changing the direction of the battle, to instead of this wide attack on Lebanon , to direct it to Syria. Chirac’s proposition was discussed at the higher professional offices of the ministry of foreign affairs, but it was not submitted for consideration at the political leadership, because of the fact that the war on Syria was not on the agenda.

An “Israeli” specialized military matters correspondent pointed out that the timing of the leakage of the French proposition is connected with the investigations of “Vinograd Committee”, and the French investigations about the accusations against Chirac’s involvement in corruption. He added that Al-Assad destroyed France’s project in the Middle East through Lebanon, as the assassination of Hariri left hatred in deep in Chirac’s heart against him, which demanded revenge.

On the other hand, there was lately a dispute between “Israeli” intelligence agencies on whether Syria is enforcing its military armament with modern weaponry as a precaution for an “Israeli” attack. Amir Ravport, military correspondent of Maarive, wrote that Syria’s preparations for war started at the end of the second war on Lebanon, and Assad’s declarations about the liberation of the Golan Heights by force if negotiations failed. He pointed out that the struggle started since then, Syria started an armament campaign with anti armored vehicles rockets and short and medium range rockets, in addition to enhancing its efforts to further advance its fortifications, navy in addition to anti aircraft rockets.

Maarive’s military correspondent believes that Iran is partly financing Syria’s purchases; so as to strengthen its strategic alliance with Damascus. He added that, “Syria’s campaign is greatly worrying ‘Israel’, and the ‘Israeli’ security community is infuriated with the Russians because they are supplying Syria with advanced fighting equipment although it was proved in the past that all the arms sold to the Syrians found their way to Hezbollah’s arsenal too. In reply to this Russians claimed during discussions with “Israel” that they only sell the Syria defensive armaments, but “Israelis” claim that the Syrians are developing their defensive potentials, which shall in the future enable them to launch an offensive against them too”.

Presently a dispute is going along between the army’s intelligence agencies and the Mossad. The army intelligence believes that Syria is purchasing arms , because of its fears of an “Israel” offensive, while the Mossad believes that Syrians are building their potentials that will enable them within three years to launch an attack on “Israel”, relying on their alliance with Iran. Whether the Syrian policy is offensive or defensive, deferent security bodies are increasingly considering that Syrians are working hard to get ready for a war with ‘Israel”.

Assafir www.assafir.com 19 March 2007

Translated by: Adib S. Kawar