John Bolton slams Israel-Syria talks

Neither French diplomacy nor Israeli talks with Syria will move Damascus from its tight relationship with Iran, charged former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton in a WND interview.

John Bolton

Bolton said he "cannot understand" why Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been engaging in negotiations with Syria while that country continues supporting terrorism, generating instability in Lebanon and upholding a close military alliance with Tehran.

"I don't really understand why he (Olmert) is engaging in these talks. Israel should be isolating the Syrian regime and working toward its replacement. The talks won't break the Iranian-Syrian connection," said Bolton.

"Mere diplomacy alone won't split Iran from Syria. I don't see the upside to talks that will grant the Baath party (led by Syrian President Bashar Assad) longevity and legitimacy."

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Bolton added it must be investigated whether Iran bankrolled the nuclear site in Syria targeted by Israel last September and reportedly constructed with North Korean aid.

Although he didn't mention Olmert by name, Bolton had strong words clearly directed at the Israeli leader, who is negotiating with Syria and agreed to a truce with Hamas while he faces a criminal investigation that could unseat him from high office:

"It is always hard for a weak, besieged government to take dramatic action. When you have the kind of upheaval in the government as you do in Israel today, it is always to the advantage of your adversaries."

In May, Olmert's office and Syria both announced they were engaging in indirect talks through Turkish mediation. WND first reported in February Olmert's government had been holding high-level talks with Syria via Turkey regarding renewing negotiations over an Israeli retreat from the Golan Heights.

The Syrian talks with Israel are widely credited with partially ending a U.S.-imposed policy of isolating the Assad regime, specifically in bringing about French and greater European diplomacy with Syria.

Yesterday, Assad attended a French-initiated regional conference at which financial deals with Syria were discussed. French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to make a state visit to Damascus in September or October and to send a delegation of high-level businessmen and legislators to Syria in next month – a major blow to U.S.-imposed sanctions against Damascus.

A top Israeli security official speaking to WND noted that since Israeli-Syrian talks were made public in May, Assad has fielded numerous calls from European officials as well as his invitation to France.

"Just because Israel is dancing with Assad, this opened the doors to him in Europe," said the security official.

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The security official pointed out Syria continues to ship arms, rockets and missiles to the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist organization despite the Israel-Syria talks.

Last month informed Egyptian and Jordanian security officials told WND that Syria, with aid from Iran, has been "furiously" acquiring Russian missiles, including advance, laser-guided missiles capable of striking the entire Jewish state.

Those security officials said some of the new missiles are capable of carrying non-conventional warheads.

To interview Aaron Klein, contact M. Sliwa Public Relations by e-mail, or call 973-272-2861 or 212-202-4453.