J'lem slams Russian decision to supply weapons to Syria
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Mar. 2, 2007
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Jerusalem aimed harsh criticism at Russia on Friday for its decision to
supply Syria with advanced missiles, including anti-aircraft missiles and
new anti-tank missiles that can penetrate Western-made tanks.

Senior Israeli officials expressed concerns that the arms would be
transferred to Hizbullah, warning that missiles that were supplied to Syria
in the past got into the hands of the group and were used against IDF tanks
during the summer's war in Lebanon.

Vice Premier Shimon Peres said that the supply of arms to Syria "encouraged
Damascus to turn to war."

"Syria is moving between peace overtures and its temptations to go to war to
which arms supply is an incentive," added Peres.
The vice premier went on to say that the UN had admitted that the weapons
flow from Syria to Hizbullah was continuing, adding that Israel needed to
exert pressure on Moscow to stop supplying Damascus with arms.

MK Silvan Shalom (Likud) said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had
"seemingly decided to restore Russia's Soviet-Empire status," adding that
the Russian president was "playing with fire."

Shalom told Israel Radio that Damascus had already paid all its dues to
Russia in the form of money Moscow had received from Iran.