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Shareh Refutes Barak's Accusations Against Syria
Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk Shareh Sunday refuted Israeli accusations that held Syria responsible for escalating tensions in south Lebanon.
Shareh told reporters at the Damascus International Airport that "the Israeli accusations are totally baseless and unacceptable as they emanate from hostile tendency."
"Neither Lebanon, nor the Lebanese resistance nor Syria wants to wage war," he said.
"We thought we have passed such a stage. Unfortunately Israel adopted a hostile line in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, inflicting heavy casualties on the Palestinians. We hoped that things would not amount to the extent of brutality and racism," he added.
The bloody clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces entered its 11th day Sunday, having killed over 90 people and injured more than 2,000 others, mostly Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.
On Saturday, clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian refugees erupted on the Israeli-Lebanese border, the most severe since Israeli withdrew its troops from south Lebanon on May 24. During the clashes, Syrian- and Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas captured three Israeli soldiers.
Israel held Syria, the powerbroker in Lebanon, ultimately responsible for the abduction. Israel has vowed to use every possible means to secure the safe return of the three soldiers.
Tensions remained high Sunday despite the Israeli threat Saturday to resort to full force to quell the violence if Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat fails to do within 48 hours.
Intensive diplomatic efforts are under way to try to control the situation and bring the flagging Middle East peace process back on track.
Shareh said "we stand firm and the Lebanese people proved to be enjoying a high fighting capacity."
"If Israel goes on with its hostile tendency, it will be the loser," he warned.
Meanwhile, the Syrian radio accused Israel on Sunday of trying to expand the confrontations in the occupied Palestinian territories to an "all-out war." The radio urged the international community to rein in the "Israeli reckless hostility."
Syria and Israel fought four wars in 1948, 1967, 1973 and 1982.Israel captured the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967.
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