The head of the research division of the Israeli Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, told lawmakers Sunday that Syria believes that Israel is planning to attack, and has therefore increased its military activity.
According to Haaretz, Baidatz said, however, that the Syrians are reluctant to go to war, and therefore are not projected to initiate it. While the Syrian army has not altered its deployment along the Golan Heights, it has boosted its activity in order to prepare for a possible Israeli attack.
Syria is closely following the activity on the Israeli side and is highly sensitive to Israeli military action in the Golan, the senior Israeli officer said.
Baidatz also said the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah would likely clash in the West Bank very soon. In June, Hamas seized control over the Gaza Strip, leaving the West Bank largely under Fatah control.
