Syrian articles view Israeli, US reactions to Russian weapon supplies

Damascus Al-Thawrah in Arabic, a government-owned newspaper, on 24 August publishes two leading articles commenting on the reactions by Israel and the United States to reports that Russia will provide Syria with new weapons.

In a 600-word editorial by Chief Editor As'ad Abbud, the paper says: "Syria is a peaceful country extending a hand for peace before the eyes and ears of the world. It has territory under occupation. It is, therefore, logical and natural for it, in accordance with all the rules of the international community, to obtain either peace and the restoration of its territory or weapons, especially since its enemy is armed and is arming others."

The paper blames the Israeli occupation for the tension in the region and describes Israel as "a weapon storehouse used daily to slaughter the Arabs" and always keep them "in the position of humiliation." It says no Arab country is supplied with modern Western weapons, even if it pays billions, if there is any possibility for these weapons to be used against Israel's "occupation, arrogance, daily attacks, and rejection of peace."

The paper says: "There is nothing new in Israel's threats. Israel's aggressive nature and permanent readiness for war and destruction were not discovered today. As for the reaction of the United States - the 'peace sponsor' that is unable to make pace - it is not a result of its fear from weapons in Syria, but a result of its fear for its position as a master of the world, giving orders and the world obeying."

The paper says Israel and the United States must be sure of the following: "1. The world cannot be run by a single superpower forever. 2. Throughout history, no nation remained strong and no nation remained weak. 3. Syria is an able and effective country that successfully maintained regional and international political presence in the face of attempts to besiege it. 4. With or without weapons, our land is for us, and the other option is peace, which renders weapons useless. So they should stop threats and lean towards peace."

In another 500-word article in Al-Thawrah, Khalid al-Ashhab says Israel did not need the Russian weapons "pretext" to show its "tendencies for aggression and domination" and to take off "the masks of political hypocrisy and malicious charlatanism."

The writer says Israel has always had "premeditated evil and hostile intentions against Syria and any attempt by it to defend itself through Russian or other weapons although it holds successive rounds of indirect peace negotiations, talks daily and elaborately about peace, and, moreover, calls for movement to direct negotiations with Syria, as if it was really willing to establish peace, and as if it was really in a hurry to achieve security and stability, not threatening them."

The writer sees in the Israeli and American reactions to "the Syrian-Russian relationship" evidence that Israel and the US Administration harbour "hostile intentions against Syria in particular and the Arab region in general." He wonders how those who talk about peace and stability and call for direct negotiations could "move suddenly to the language of threats and readiness to launch war for the simplest of reasons." He gives Georgia as proof of "Israel's aggressive and subversive nature and its malicious role not only in disturbing the Arab region but also in disturbing the world, near and far."

The writer says: "When Syria buys defensive weapons to defend itself against the Israeli aggression, which looms daily, it disturbs the region's security and stability, according to the American political norm. But when the United States and Israel occupy and destroy countries in the region, displace peoples, and sabotage entire societies, this is necessary for the provision of security and stability, according to the same one-eyed political norm."

The writer concludes by saying: "Naturally, we are not surprised or astonished by the American and Israeli reactions, whether to President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Moscow or to reports about renewed Syrian-Russian cooperation. But we are trying to read behind the Israeli language, which reveals flagrant contradiction between claims for peace and preparation for aggression!"

Source: Al-Thawrah website, Damascus, in Arabic 24 Aug 08