[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12262-S12263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SYRIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, like most Americans, I have watched the 
events of the past several days in the Middle East with great concern. 
Through a series of miscalculations, the fragile peace process, which 
so many of us support and were hoping would be successful, seems to 
have been threatened by renewed violence.
  As a strong supporter of Israel, I hope a reopening of the 
constructive dialog has been achieved in the White House in the past 24 
or 36 hours. And I hope as well that both Israel and Palestinian 
leaders will renew their commitment to peace.
  As they attempt to resolve their immediate differences, I urge Prime 
Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Arafat to act in good faith and with 
restraint, although I have to say, after having had a lengthy meeting 
with Mr. Arafat just a few weeks ago on the Gaza, I did not observe 
much restraint.

  So often, dramatic events in one district of the world draw attention 
from some of the other things that are going on. I would like to call 
the attention of my colleagues to the concern that I have over other 
things that are taking place in that region of the world. I wish to 
call to my colleague's attention, current actions being taken by Syria, 
actions which may prove to be an even greater threat to the security of 
Israel and the stability of the Middle East.
  A very dangerous game is being played by Syrian President Hafez Assad 
on the Golan Heights. For the past month, Syria has been conducting a 
series of troop movements along Israel's northern border, which will 
enable Syria to quickly launch an attack on Israel. Syria has 
redeployed up to 12,000 troops from in and around Beirut to within 
striking distance of the Golan Heights. This is the first significant 
manipulation of military forces since the Madrid Conference convened 5 
years ago to initiate the peace process.
  Only by standing on the edge of the Golan, which I have done many 
times, and I am sure the Senator presiding has also, can you get the 
full impact of the strategic significance of the Golan.
  The Syrian troop movements is just the latest in a series of 
destabilizing actions by Assad. Despite repeated invitations for Prime 
Minister Netanyahu, Assad has refused to renew peace talks with Israel. 
Syria still harbors some 10 anti-Israel terrorist organizations in 
Damascus. Syria also supports the anti-Turkish, anti-Jordanian 
terrorists, and let's not forget Syria's destabilization of Lebanon 
with over 40,000 Syrian troops supporting Hezbollah terrorists.
  Mr. President, the Syrian troop movements are additionally menacing 
in light of a serious surprise attack on Israel during the observance 
of Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement in 1973.
  In 1973, Syrian commando units were used to attack Israeli positions 
on Mt. Hermon during Yom Kippur, the day of fasting prayer and 
introspection, which was observed in Israel just last Monday. Syrian 
troop movements could force a dangerous escalation by virtue

[[Page S12263]]

of the implied threat to Israel of their forward positions.
  In the most recent redeployment, which took place just last week, 
special forces were moved to forward positions on the Syrian side of 
Mt. Hermon. These movements are most disturbing and significantly 
change the military picture. It was a similar force which captured an 
Israeli outpost on Mt. Hermon in 1973. They were only dislodged after 
heavy loss of life.
  Mr. President, an editorial published in a recent Near East report 
outlines the threat to Israel of these recent Syrian actions.
  I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    Troubling Syrian Troop Movements

       For several weeks, Syrian troops have been moving from the 
     Beirut area to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, close to Israeli 
     positions on the Golan Heights. The New York Times (Sept. 18) 
     said Israel and the U.S. are particularly concerned about the 
     movement of crack Syrian commandos near Israeli listening 
     posts on Mount Hermon, given that the 1973 Yom Kippur War 
     began with a Syrian commando attack on Mount Hermon.
       In its September 18 lead story, Ha'aretz reports that an 
     intelligence assessment (presented in recent days to Prime 
     Minister Netanyahu against the background of the troop 
     movements) says that, while there are no signs indicating an 
     immediate outbreak of hostilities, ``the probability of war 
     with Syria is no longer low.'' (In recent years, IDF 
     intelligence assessments have said there is ``a low 
     probability'' of such a war.)
       The biggest military advantage Syria could gain from the 
     latest troop movement would be a reduction in the time needed 
     to move from a defensive to an attacking posture. ``The main 
     concern is not that the Syrians will try to attack the 
     Galilee, but will try a quick capture of some key point, like 
     Mt. Hermon. This evaluation is based largely on the nature of 
     the Syrian forces sighted in the area: special commando units 
     trained to engage in swift raids,'' wrote Ha'aretz 
     intelligence expert Yossi Melman (Sep. 18).
       While the Syrian movements are troubling, their 
     significance should not be exaggerated. Israel and Syria have 
     reportedly exchanged ``pacifying messages'' aimed at heading 
     off a confrontation. Foreign Minister David Levy and U.S. 
     Ambassador to Lebanon Richard Jones are said to be involved 
     in calming things.
       ``I don't see anything particularly alarming in the 
     redeployment,'' Jones said, adding that a military 
     confrontation between Syria and Israel'' seems pretty far-
     fetched'' (Reuter, Sep. 17).
       Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Knesset Foreign Affairs 
     and Defense Committee: ``Syria's intention is evidently to 
     put psychological pressure on Israel and its new government. 
     And, when pressure is applied to you, the main thing is don't 
     get pressured.''
       Syria's bullying tactics come at a particularly inopportune 
     time--just as Washington and Jerusalem have been working 
     tirelessly to arrive at a new formula for resuming Israeli-
     Syrian talks. Damascus would do well to jettison the 
     questionable threats and troop movements in favor of re-
     engaging in serious negotiations with Israel.

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