The former head of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, said this week that he was not convinced Syrian President Hafez Assad was serious about making peace with Israel.
“We still have to look for signs that President Assad really wants a genuine peace with the State of Israel,” Shabtai Shavit told reporters Thursday. “I am still not totally convinced that [Assad] has made the required change of direction to achieve a sincere and genuine peace.”
His remarks contrast sharply with the assessment of the former head of army intelligence, Uri Saguy.
Saguy said Assad was pragmatic, and that after the breakup of the Soviet Union he made a strategic decision to pursue peace, as a means to regain possession of the Golan Heights.
Shavit served as head of the Mossad for sever years. His successor, Maj. Gen. Danny Yatom, was the prime minister’s military secretary.
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