(Christian Science Monitor) - A U.S. strike on Iraq will strengthen Israel's hand on the Palestinian front and throughout the region, Deputy Interior Minister Gideon Ezra suggested. "The more aggressive the attack is, the more it will help Israel against the Palestinians," said Ezra. He said a U.S. strike would "undoubtedly deal a psychological blow" to the Palestinians. He predicted a U.S. strike would "calm down the entire region" by eliminating "the extremism of Saddam." According to Likud MK Yuval Steinitz, "After Iraq is taken by U.S. troops and we see a new regime installed as in Afghanistan, and Iraqi bases become American bases, it will be very easy to pressure Syria to stop supporting terrorist organizations like Hizbullah and Islamic Jihad, to allow the Lebanese army to dismantle Hizbullah, and maybe to put an end to the Syrian occupation in Lebanon."
2002-09-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive