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Israel warns Syrian leader over war comments

From Kevin Flower CNN
Israel's foreign minister said President Assad (pictured) "crossed a red line."
Israel's foreign minister said President Assad (pictured) "crossed a red line."
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • President Bashar al-Assad reportedly said "Israel is not serious about achieving peace"
  • Syrian leader's comment was made to Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos
  • Israeli FM: "Whoever thinks territorial concessions will disconnect Damascus from the Axis of Evil is wrong"
  • Statement from Israel PM's office said Israel will continue to act decisively against any threats
RELATED TOPICS
  • Israel
  • Syria
  • Bashar Assad
  • Avigdor Lieberman

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued a stark warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday that he and his family would lose their hold on power if Syria were to attack Israel.

The remarks came a day after Syria's state-run news agency reported Assad said that "Israel is not serious about achieving peace since all facts point out that Israel is pushing the region towards war, not peace."

Lieberman, speaking Thursday morning at a business forum at Bar-Ilan University, said. "Assad should know that if he attacks, he will not only lose the war. Neither he nor his family will remain in power," Israel radio reported.

"Our message should be that if Assad's father lost a war but remained in power, the son should know that an attack would cost him his regime," Lieberman continued. "This is the message that must be conveyed to the Syrian leader by Israel."

Assad's comment was made to Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, the Syrian News Agency reported.

After Assad's meeting with Moratinos, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told reporters that "Israel should not test Syria's determination. ... Israel knows that war will move to the Israeli cities. ... Israel has to commit to the just and comprehensive peace requirements."

Lieberman said Assad's words "crossed a red line" and added that "whoever thinks territorial concessions will disconnect Damascus from the Axis of Evil is wrong."

The heated exchange between the two countries' officials came despite the recent efforts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dampen speculation about an increased likelihood of war between Israel and Syria.

Shortly after Lieberman's public comments, Netanyahu's office released a statement saying the two men had spoken and agreed "that the government's policy is clear: Israel's face is directed to peace and carrying out diplomatic negotiations with Syria without preconditions."

The statement added that Israel will continue to act decisively against any threats.

Israel and Syria have engaged in on-again off-again peace talks for years. Most recently, Turkey had mediated indirect talks between the two. Among the many differences that have made the neighboring countries adversaries for years are Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, which it took from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, and Syria's ties with Iran and militant groups operating in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

In a speech Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who has publicly supported reopening negotiations with Syria, warned his countrymen that if the absence of talks continues "we could end up with all-out war."