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| By: Ali Waked |
| Published: August 30, 2007 |
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Despite reports to the contrary, the Israel Defense Forces have not decreased its forces in the Golan Heights, and are maintaining a high level of alert along the Syrian border, top IDF officials said Wednesday.
The officials added, however, that tensions between Syria and Israel have slightly lowered as of late as a result of diplomatic efforts. The officials said that both Damascus and Jerusalem had received "certain messages" communicating that neither wished to spark a war.
Syria is "showing preliminary signs of easing tensions with Israel," said Defense Minister Ehud Barak to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday.
"Israel does not have an interest in escalating tensions with Syria, and I think the Syrians don't have an interest in escalating tensions with us," he added.
Reports in the Israeli press Wednesday said that the IDF had deemed a war with Syria unlikely, and was therefore reducing its forces on the Golan Heights.
"IDF troops scheduled to hold maneuvers on the Golan Heights would now be moved away from the border to the country's south to further reduce friction, the officials said, and the army's war-readiness status on the Israel-Syria border is now considered over," Ha'aretz wrote.
According to the reports, Syria, which is known to have prepared its surface-to-surface missiles for use in an anticipated conflict, was also said to have lowered its war alert level.
Tensions between Jerusalem and Damascus have seesawed since the spring amid rumors and reports that both countries were preparing for war but that neither wanted one.
Stan Goodenough of the Jerusalem Newswire contributed to this report. |
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