Israel/Syria

        The security cabinet will convene Wednesday to discuss Syria . The head of Military Intelligence (MI) Major General Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday, that Syrian President Bashir Al-Assad is preparing for the possibility of war but there are no signs that Damascus will initiate a conflict. Defense Minister Amir Peretz also told the committee there are no signs that the Syrians plan to start a war against Israel. A senior diplomatic source says Israel has sent messages to Syria via various channels that Israel is not seeking a war. At the same time, the source stressed that Israel is prepared for any eventuality and is aware that Damascus has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment, particularly in the last year since the end of the Second Lebanon War. The source noted that Sria has recently purchased new anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft missiles.(12,39)