yria deploys thousands of rockets near Israel

3/11/2007 8:00:00 PM GMT

(AFP Photo) Syrian soldiers patrol the border between Syria and Iraq in Al Baghouth The Israeli Occupation forces say Syria has began the deployment of thousands of rockets near the Jewish State. According to officials, about 1,000 missiles and medium- and long-range rockets have been deployed by Syria near the southern border. The deployment of missiles and rockets, which officials claimed could strike northern and central Israel, began in September last year. "The Syrians have been very cautious and acted very quietly, but there is a new situation along their southern border," an official had been quoted by Middle East Newsline as saying. "We have been asking UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] to become involved." Meanwhile, Dr. Ibrahim Suleiman, who held secret meetings with former Foreign Ministry director-general Alon Liel, under the auspices of a European country that he refuses to name, plans to appear before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The official told Israel’s Haaretz that his visit to Israel will witness a historic dialogue with the public during which he plans to clarify Syria’s position, which he asserted was to develop a peaceful solution for the region crisis. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman and Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik have both agreed to officially invite a foreign national who has represented the positions of an Arab state “that is still in a state of war with Israel,” the report further stated. "President Bashar Assad means every word when he calls on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to begin peace talks without preconditions," the Syrian official said.