TruthNews

Report: Olmert Confirms Israel Targeted Syrian Nuclear Facility

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 1 Apr 2008

According to a webposting by the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed to Japanese officials on his recent trip to Tokyo that Israeli warplanes targeted a Syrian nuclear facility being built with North Korean assistance last September.

Japanese government sources are quoted in the report as saying that during Olmert’s Tokyo meeting on February 27, he informed Japan’s Prime Minister of the airstrike.

The paper pointed out that this was the first time the planned target was revealed to a foreign government head.

Israel had previously acknowledged carrying out an IAF operation over northern Syria on September 6, 2007 but did not disclose its target. But Olmert told the Japanese PM that the location was a nuclear-linked facility still undergoing construction with help from technicians deployed by Pyongyang, North Korea, according to sources.

Olmert also said that Israel is apprehensive about North Korean nuclear production and wants to increase its dialogue with Tokyo on the subject, sources added. However, Japanese government officials showed mixed views on Olmert’s statement, said the report.

"While we cannot confirm the facts, the fact that such an assertion was made at an official occasion such as a summit meeting is significant, making it highly credible," said a top Foreign Ministry official.

But another official noted that Olmert "may have only presented facts that were favorable for the Israeli side," reported Ynetnews.