By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon said Thursday morning that Israel has no intention of attacking Syria.
Ramon said in Israel Radio that the anxiety of the last few days is “surprising and baseless,” rejecting earlier reports that Israeli security forces have been put on high alert along the northern border.
The Israeli government is always looking to negotiate with Syria, Ramon added.
Tensions on Israeli-Syrian borders mounted on Wednesday following senior Israeli defense officials’ confirmation of Arab media reports that Syria has been beefing up its forces and calling up reserves ahead of a possible conflict with Israel.
Major General Amos Gilad, head of Israeli Defense Ministry’s Diplomatic-Security Bureau, also denied on Thursday that the northern front is facing a new eruption of war despite the reports of Syrian reserves being called up.
“Syria isn’t interested in attacking Israel, and vice versa,” he was quoted by local daily Jerusalem Post as saying, adding that the overseas reports saying three Syrian divisions were called up is incorrect.
Gilad’s words echoed remarks made by Israeli Deputy Chief of General Staff Major General Dan Harel, who said Wednesday during a press conference in Tel Aviv that neither Israel nor Syria has an interest in a military conflict.
But he, meanwhile, warned that if Israel were attacked by Syriaor Hezbollah, the response made by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would be “painful.”
On Wednesday, the London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi reported that Damascus was preparing for a large-scale Israeli attack against Syria and Hezbollah and has begun increasing its presence along its border with Lebanon, as well as calling up reserve forces.
Due to the increased tensions in the north as well as in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has canceled a trip to Germany scheduled for next week, according to Jerusalem Post.
Barak was to meet with German intelligence chiefs to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and efforts in Berlin to mediate between Hezbollah and Israel regarding abducted IDF reservists Eldad Regevand Ehud Goldwasser, Israeli officials said.