Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam on Thursday (February 27) criticized Israel’s decision to build a new Jewish housing project in Arab East Jerusalem, calling it an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
After a 90-minute meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam told reporters: “In light of Israel’s recent initiatives, we can say that this country does not want peace. Syria wants peace, France wants peace, but Israel does not.” Chirac’s spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, said the French leader had expressed concern after the Israeli cabinet committee approved plans to build 6,500 housing units on Mount Abu Ghneim, known to Israelis as Har Homa, in East Jerusalem, on land captured during the 1967 Middle East war.
Chirac told Khaddam that it was essential to revive peace negotiations between Israelis and Arabs, and that France was ready to help, she added.
The president also expressed concerns about worsening violence in southern Lebanon and called for restraint from all parties, including Iran-backed Hezbollah guerrillas operating from areas controlled by Syrian troops.
Peace talks between Israel and Syria have been frozen since the election last May of the far-right Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Paris has pledged to revive peace talks between the Jewish state, Damascus, and Beirut. France has offered to participate in monitoring the border between Israel and Lebanon if a comprehensive agreement is reached.
Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam, accompanied by his Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara, will leave Paris tonight and continue his trip to other European cities.
