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IDF: Assad Backs Terror, Wants to Talk
(Jerusalem Post/Ha'aretz) Herb Keinon and Tovah Lazaroff - Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Aharon Ze'evi told the cabinet Sunday that Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to assist Hizballah and host Palestinian terrorist headquarters in Damascus, but was "more serious than ever" about trying to renew negotiations with Israel. Ze'evi added that Syria is still providing Hizballah and Palestinian terror groups, particularly the Tanzim, with both financial and logistical support. Ze'evi told the cabinet that continuous U.S. diplomatic pressure on Syria, including the recently passed Syrian Accountability Act, as well as Israel's attack on a terrorist base deep inside Syria in October, have combined to bring about Assad's recent overtures. According to Ze'evi, Assad has identified a Bush administration need for some kind of achievement in the Middle East and believes the U.S. may be interested in pursing the Syrian track at a time when the Palestinian track has become stalemated. Intelligence Research Department head Brig.-Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser has said Assad is not serious, and that these overtures are merely a way to deflect U.S. anger over Syrian aid to Iraqi guerrillas. Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim said, "Even now, according to my knowledge, in the last few days, Syria is involved in conveying weapons from Iran to Hizballah." Still, he said, it's possible that international pressure could be pushing Assad to start taking negotiations with Israel seriously. "Assad understands that he is in very bad shape," said Boim.