Report: Israel Asks US To Put Return Of Syria Envoy On Hold

[Purveyor]

PM Netanyahu asks US to freeze plans to send ambassador to Syria in wake of Assad-Ahmadinejad meeting, London-based Arab newspaper says; leaders of Assad's type interpret US moves as sign of weakness, Bibi reportedly says. Israeli officials deny report.

Roee Nahmias
Published: 02.27.10, 19:23 / Israel News

Israel has approached the US Administration and asked that it put on hold plans to send an American ambassador to Damascus, the London-based Sharq al-Awsat reported Saturday. .

Israel submitted the request in the wake of the warm welcome accorded to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his recent Damascus visit, the newspaper's reporter in Israel said, quoting sources close to the government.

However, officials in Jeruaslem flatly denied the report

According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relayed the request via Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is currently in Washington, and also through another messenger on behalf of the PM.

In his message, Netanyahu was said to have noted that Syria deliberately responded openly and disparagingly to the American request that it distance itself from Iran.

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3855265,00.html

[classysassy]

1. A request or a command?

Is the tail still waging the dog?