Syria's president on Sunday said Israel is not genuine in its desire for peace with its Arab neighbors. According to the AP, Bashar Assad stated Israel must prove it wants peace by withdrawing from all occupied Arab territory.
Assad spoke Sunday at the opening session of a meeting of Arab parliamentarians in the Syrian capital Damascus. During his speech he stressed his country's support to the Palestinians' fight to gain their rights, but noted the key for this will be to achieve unity among the Palestinian people.
In his speech, the Syrian leader also attacked a proposed American-Iraqi security deal that would keep American forces in Iraq for three more years. According to him, the American troops contribute to regional instability and should withdraw from Iraq.
Assad told the audience that a recent American raid inside Syria near its border with Iraq is confirmation that the U.S. will use Iraq as a base to attack its neighbors.
