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Israel in favor of uncrowned “Crown Prince” |
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June 13, 2000
JERUSALEM, JUNE 12 (AP) - Israeli defense officials anticipate a smooth transition of power in Syria, believing that the late Syrian President Hafez Assad secured his son's succession before dying last week.
The senior military officials, who spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity, said they expected Bashar Assad to consolidate power "within two weeks."
The Israeli military officials said they expected the younger Assad to maintain his father's policies, and noted reports that the elder Assad had in recent months purged his regime of threats to the 34-year-old Bashar's succession. The officials noted that "not one Israeli soldier" had been moved subsequent to the death.
Syria's rubber stamp parliament has moved quickly to endorse Bashar as the next Syrian leader.
Even though relations with Syria have been at a nadir since a breakdown in peace talks in February, Israel had expected the elder Assad to help maintain quiet in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli troops last month, after an 18-year occupation.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his army commanders have said they hope for stability. "We hope the Syrian leadership will remain stable and the situation will remain stable until a successor is chosen," said Maj. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who commands forces in Israel's north.
Some Israeli leaders have expressed concern about Syria's stability, and its ability to maintain order in Lebanon, following Assad's death on Saturday. Within hours of the death announcement, Tourism Minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak - also a lead negotiator with Syria - predicted a long period of uncertainty.
Such pronouncements have irked Barak, who is eager not to prejudge the abilities of the younger Assad, a Western-educated doctor believed to hold more moderate peace process positions than his late father.
Barak's office published an extraordinary notice on Sunday evening telling reporters that "Israel is not able to predict developments in Syria," and that any official doing so speaks in his own name and not for Israel.
Talks between Israel and Syria had faltered when Barak refused to agree to Assad's demand that Israel make a prior commitment to withdrawing from all of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
Barak strongly hinted he was willing to do so, but said an explicit commitment tied his hand going into negotiations.
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