August 22, 2008



OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli premier Ehud Olmert intends to visit Russia to foil a possible arms deal to Syria, according to Yediot Ahronot on Friday.



The paper said that Olmert threatened Syria that Israel will destroy any weapons they buy from Russia telling the Syrians that it would be a loss for Syria to pay money for arms that Israel will work to destroy.



These Israeli reaction were prompted by President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Russia to express his support for the Russian government in the Caucuses conflict and a probable arms deal.



Israel and the USA have been angered by reports that Syria has accepted Russian deployment of Iskander missile system on its territories. Syria has officially said that there is no truth to such reports.



Olmert has pre-empted Asad's visit by a phone call to Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev during which he urged President Medvedev not to sell weapons to Syria and tried to belittle the role of Israel in supplying the Georgian army with weapons.



For his part, the Israeli war minister, Ehud Barak, said that Israel is watching the results of Asad's visit to Russia closely, in particular the negotiations to equip the Syrian army with better weapons.



The Israeli foreign minister Tzipi livni had earlier urged Russia not to conclude any arms deals with Syria and said that both Israel and Russia have interest in Syria not getting long range missiles.









