Olmert: No Syria attack plans
By MATTI FREIDMAN, Associated Press Writer Wed Apr 18, 5:57 AM ET
JERUSALEM - Israel has no plans to launch a military strike against Syria, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a powerful parliamentary committee on Wednesday, a participant in the meeting said — an apparent attempt to ease fears in Damascus of a possible assault.
"We have no intention of attacking Syria," the participant cited the prime minister as telling parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Olmert has made such soothing comments in the past. In his appearance Wednesday before the panel, Olmert said Israeli intelligence officials think Syria has recently redeployed troops because Damascus thinks Israel will attack Syria, and not because Syria is preparing to attack Israel, the meeting participant said.
The participant, an official close to Olmert, spoke on condition of anonymity because the panel's deliberations are confidential.
Syria has expressed interest in renewing peace talks with Israel, but Olmert has rejected the overtures, saying Damascus must first end its support for Lebanese and Palestinian militants who attack Israel, and for insurgents in
Iraq.
The latest round of peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000.
The prime minister also repeated a previous observation that he knows of no U.S. plans to attack Iran, the meeting participant said.
Olmert: No Syria attack plans 
Author