Today's Situation

SYRIA'S DEFENSIVE SHIELD, August 13, 2007

Yedioth Ahronoth reports in its Monday edition that the Syrian antiaircraft defensive line on the Golan Heights is the most crowded in the world, thanks to its continued purchase of Russian weapon systems.

According to the report, the Syrians hold more than 200 antiaircraft batteries of different types. A military source told the paper that in a bid to respond to the Israel Air Force's supremacy, Damascus has been making efforts in the past few years to improve its ability in terms of ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missiles. According to the source, as part of these efforts the Syrians have purchased the most advanced ground-to-air missiles from the Russians, considered the cutting edge in aircraft interception technology.

Army Radio also reported that Syria has acquired advanced weapons, including chemical warheads for surface-to-surface missiles.

Also on the Syrian front, Channel 10 reported in Sunday night that the IDF, under Defense Minister Ehud Barak, is planning a ground assault deep into Syrian territory if Syria attacks Israel with missiles. The report said Syria possesses thousands of missiles capable of hitting virtually any point within Israel. The only way to counter this threat, he said, would be to launch a swift strategic ground assault into Syria until the missile attack ceases.

Israel Radio reports that Barak spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday evening and thanked her for her efforts to increase American assistance to Israel and to secure a political horizon between Israel and the Palestinians.

Barak's office told reporters that he 'repeated his well known position' that while the daily lives of Palestinians needs to be made as easy as possible, the security of Israel's citizens is 'our primary and supreme worry and duty.' The call came after Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday that Barak dismissed any peace deal with the Palestinians in the near future as fantasy - comments that the State Department subsequently criticized and Barak quickly denied. A spokesman for Barak said that he assured Rice he hoped a political horizon is emerging with the Palestinian Authority while preserving the security of the state of Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio reports that visiting U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos says he sees little chance of a real breakthrough on a Palestinian state at a U.S.-sponsored conference planned to take place this autumn or before the end of President George W. Bush's term. Lantos, chairman of the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, said that while some people in the administration would like to see great achievements in the next few months they will not be forthcoming. He added that this is a task that a capable and committed secretary of state can achieve in the time that is left for this administration.

Maariv, meanwhile, reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected a proposal by President Shimon Peres that the government free more than 10,000 Arab prisoners and terrorists over the next five years in a 'prisoners for security' deal. (See full report, below.)

Finally, The Jerusalem Post leads with reports that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is planning to hold legislative and presidential elections within six months. According to the report, Abbas want the election to be held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and hopes that Hamas will not try to torpedo the balloting.

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