PARIS - Israel said Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had yet to prove his "credibility" for any resumption of stalled peace talks despite his announcement of a full troop withdrawal from Lebanon.
"We rather have the impression that Assad is seeking to gain time," Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner said in an interview on French radio.
Assad told UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen Saturday that Syria would make a full withdrawal of an estimated 14,000 troops and intelligence operatives from neighbouring Lebanon.
But Pazner expressed concern about the "extremely active support Syria has given numerous organizations that seek the destruction of Israel.
"There must be a real change in the attitude of Syria before one could talk of negotiations on the Golan Heights," he said, referring to the strategic plateau Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed in December 1981.
"For the moment Assad has still not demonstrated his credibility," said Pazner. "We need proof that we have a credible partner before starting negotiations like we have found with the Palestinians, Mahmud Abbas."
Peace talks between Syria and Israel broke down in 2000 over the fate of the Golan Heights.
03/13/2005 19:35 GMT