Israel's prime minister is trying to lower tensions with Syria. Ehud Olmert on Sunday said Damascus should not worry about a national public safety drill that Israel is conducting this week. According to him, the move is "nothing but an exercise."
According to the AP, He told his Cabinet on Sunday that Israel is not seeking a violent conflict with its northern neighbor. He also repeated his call for peace talks with Syria.
On his part, the Israeli defense minister also sought to reassure Syria and Lebanon on Sunday that Israel did not want athe drill to worsen tensions. "The northern front is particularly volatile, but we don't want any degradation and the other side knows it and we also think that the other side doesn't want a degradation," Ehud Barak told Israel's public radio. He added, however, that Israel was "ready to confront any development." And he added: "In the wars today preparing the home front is an essential element for victory."
