Assad OKs resistance against Israel

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad ratcheted up the rhetoric against Israel, calling for action against the Jewish (Zionist) state if it fails to return the Golan Heights.

"This does not contradict the constant desire to achieve a just and inclusive peace on the basis of the restoration of the occupied lands, starting with the occupied Syrian Golan," Assad told the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday.

"The failure of negotiations in returning all rights means automatically the existence of the resistance as an alternative solution."

Syrian Arab News Agency reported Assad accused Israel of daily atrocities against the Palestinians and called for the dismantling of all West Bank settlements -- not just a construction freeze.

It is time to work toward eliminating "Zionist occupation," SANA quoted him as saying.

"Nobody will take care of our interests and rights when we neglect them. We cannot rely on others when we cannot rely on ourselves," he said.

The Golan Heights is a strategic plateau that straddles the borders of Israel and Syria. Israel captured the area in the Six Day War in 1967. Syria has said it would be willing to embark on peace talks with Israel on condition the land is returned to its jurisdiction.