Liberman offers tentative support for Syria arms deal

Likud Beytenu MK Avigdor Liberman says "the arrangement with Syria is good for Israel - but the test will be in its implementation."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Avigdor Liberman 370 (photo credit: reuters)
Avigdor Liberman 370
(photo credit: reuters)
The US-Russia deal to have Syria dismantle their chemical weapons arsenal is ultimately a good thing for Israel, the outspoken Avigdor Liberman told Army Radio talk show "Good Morning Israel" on Sunday morning.
"The arrangement with Syria is good for Israel, but the test will be in its implementation," Liberman said.
Liberman, who currently serves as the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, believes the deal can work, but it all depends on Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"The test has been performed, and Assad has a very problematic record in every subject of reliability and good intentions," said the Likud Beytenu MK. "Only recently he was still denying that Syria held chemical weapons."
According to Liberman, the judgement of Assad's earnestness in honoring the deal will begin next week when Assad is expected to hand over an initial map outlining the sites of chemical weapons caches.
Still, Liberman was coy when asked about Israel's interest in ratifying a treaty which would ban chemical weapons.
"Only when the Middle East truly becomes a new Middle East, will we sign any treaty," he declared.