Israel skeptical about Syrian pledge on Hizbullah

Government officials reacted with skepticism Friday to Syria's commitment to stop the flow of weapons to Hizbullah. "Israel does not think that Syria during the last conflict - both in helping Hizbullah by financing and arming them directly and the declarations during the conflict - and in its aftermath, has shown any reason to be a reliable force," government spokeswoman Miri Eisen said. "Syria continues to be a safe haven for terrorism." Syrian President Bashar Assad had committed in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to increase security along the Lebanon-Syria border and establish joint patrols with the Lebanese army.