Israel gov't too extreme to make peace - Syria's Assad (Reuters)

Just imagine: If you are living in the constant bombardment of loose missiles & uncertain when your relatives, neighbors or siblings might be the one getting the attack. How “aggressive” you will be to pursue Peace if can come across it?

I may not even be the right person to comment on this as I am fortunate enough not living in the conflict land but if you were to ask me…I will be even more aggressive in protecting my family or home.

But one thing I find it difficult is that human being is not a “compromise” type. They want to have “Something” first before agree to sit down and talk. If there is “no food on the table, then sorry, I am not interested”. They said, it takes a Big heart to be a Good leader but if you have big heart then you will be perceived as weak.

I know my post this time is full of contradiction but I do hope that one day we can see peace there…

Israel gov't too extreme to make peace - Syria's Assad (Reuters)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cast doubt on Saturday on reaching Middle East peace under what he termed as an "extreme" Israeli government but did not rule out resuming talks with the Jewish state.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gestures during the opening of the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Damascus May 23, 2009.
"The failure of the peace process so far has clearly shown that Israel is the obstacle ... How can a state that was founded on illegal occupation and continues to murder the original inhabitants work toward peace?" Assad said

How can a country that has chosen the most extreme government in its history be a partner for peace?" he added.

Assad, who was addressing a foreign ministers' meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), was referring to the Israeli government of right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which took office two months ago.

"We the Arab nations, and especially Syria will not change our view about peace as a strategic goal, including the full return of occupied lands," Assad said in the Syrian capital.

Syria, which along with Iran supports the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, held four rounds of Turkish mediated indirect talks with Israel in 2008 that were formally suspended during the Israeli invasion of Gaza in December.

Damascus was among the most vocal critics of the invasion, which enhanced its position as a self-declared champion of Arab rights, to the ire of the U.S. backed governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the OIC meeting and separately met Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile in Syria, at the Russian embassy.

Lavrov said that Russia believes in the need to maintain contacts with the Palestinian group, despite a cooling of ties between the two sides.

NO "GIFT" TO ISRAEL
Assad urged the 57-nation OIC not to offer Israel what he described as concessions, hinting at remarks by Jordan's King Abdullah that U.S. President Barack Obama was promoting a Middle East peace plan that could involve normalisation of ties between Israel and all Muslim nations.

Obama is due to address the Muslim world from Egypt in June, but Egypt's foreign minister did not attend the OIC meeting in the Syrian capital.

"Israel must not be rewarded for its crimes. Any progress on relations, if they exist, must be tied to Israel committing to a just and comprehensive peace, restoring the legitimate rights and withdrawing from the lands it occupies," Assad said.

Syrian political commentator Marwan Kabalan told al-Jazeera Television that Assad's aim was to make sure Obama's speech on June 4 does not leave Syria, which advocates a tough line against Israel, appearing isolated.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC secretary general, said that Muslim countries "cannot offer Israel a gift with Israel refusing to accept international resolutions and the rights of the Palestinian people."

Obama has sought to assure Muslims that the United States was not at war with them but U.S. support for Israel does not go down well with most Muslim countries, which largely avoid ties with Israel.

U.S. officials told their Syrian counterparts this month that Obama, who has placed Middle East peace high on his agenda, was committed to seeking a deal between Syria and Israel, in contrast to a less enthusiastic position by his predecessor George W. Bush.

Netanyahu offered after meeting Obama on Wednesday to restart the talks with Syria without conditions. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said any resumption would be useless without an Israeli commitment to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied for the last 42 years.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters