Rula Amin: Israeli strikes on Syria

Rula Amin

CNN Moderator: Israel says its firing on Syrian targets in Lebanon is in response to the continued terrorism of the Hezbollah with the approval of the Syrian government. What is Syria's reaction to the raid and how is it responding to Israel's charges?

Rula Amin: Syria is describing the raid attack as a flagrant aggression and says that it's an expression of the aggressive policies of the new Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. Damascus says that it reserves the right to defend itself against all aggression. Now, the Syrians consider Hezbollah a resistance movement and support their attacks against Israel, since the Syrians say that Israel still occupies Arab land, including Syrian and Lebanese. Both Hezbollah and Syria say that Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon has not been complete, and that Israel still occupies part of Lebanese land. So, the Syrians say they have nothing to apologize for, for supporting Hezbollah.

MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on current events in Lebanon     ALSO Explosion near West Bank settlement TIME.com: Syria strike could hurt Israel

Question from chat room: Does Lebanon expect another invasion by Israel now that Ariel Sharon is Prime Minister?

Rula Amin: I don't know about the Lebanese, but we've heard statements from both the Syrians and the Lebanese, accusing Mr. Sharon of leading the region into more escalation and undermining the stability for the whole region. They don't think he is serious in his promises that he will pursue peace with Israel's Arab neighbors.

CNN Moderator: The attack comes just as the Jordanian foreign minister is visiting Israel to promote a plan to calm tensions and renew peace talks. Are Syria and Lebanon backing that plan?

Rula Amin: We don't have specific details on that plan, but it doesn't seem that the Syrians are involved in preparing it. However, the Syrians have made it clear on what they see as a satisfactory settlement, and that is for Israel to withdraw from all Arab land that was occupied in 1967, and for the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the return of Palestinian refugees to their home. (Israeli governments have consistently rejected such terms.)

Question from chat room: Why doesn’t the UN intervene since it has positions in the area?

Rula Amin: The UN only monitors, but it doesn't have enough force or mandate to enforce what its vision on the parties involved.

Question from chat room: What is the Israeli public's opinion with respect to continuing conflicts with Syria and Lebanon?

Rula Amin: There are different views among Israelis on how to deal with Syria and Lebanon. Some are willing to give up the Golan Heights in order to make peace with Syria, while others think that that is too much of a high price, and would like to keep the Golan Heights with Israel, even if it means a continuation for the status quo.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today.

Rula Amin: Thank you for having me.

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Lebanese Presidential Palace
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israeli Prime Minister's Office
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Israel Defense Forces
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