Syrian President Bashar Assad's actions belie his words, Israeli officials said Sunday night in reaction to an interview Assad gave the German Der Spiegel magazine saying that he was interested in peace and had no desire to wipe Israel off the map. "Israel has always said that it would be more than happy to extend its hand in peace toward Syria, but this is impossible with the present government in Damascus that openly gives a safe haven to terrorist organizations and backs Hizbullah," said a senior government official. The Syrians have to prove themselves with deeds, not just words, the official said, and the deeds that Israel sees is support for Hizbullah and terrorism against Israel. Asked in the Der Spiegel interview published on Sunday whether he agreed with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement that Israel should be wiped off the map, Assad said that "an entire generation is growing up today with the conviction that only strength and war will lead to peace." Assad said he did not believe in war, but "in the principle of deterrence... I don't say that Israel should be wiped off the map. We want to make peace - peace with Israel."
Then, in what Israeli officials said was a perfect example of Assad's double talk, he said "my hope for peace could change one day. And when the hope disappears, then maybe war really is the only solution."