Syria sticks by Hamas but still seeks peace with Israel

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria does not want to put pressure on Hamas in its conflict with Israel, diplomats said on Wednesday, although the Israeli assault on Gaza has harmed prospects for a Syrian-Israeli peace deal.

"Everyone wants this to end. The question is, how? Egypt and Saudi Arabia want Hamas to stop firing rockets, but given the ferocity of the Israeli response Syria will not be party to any solution that punishes Hamas," one of the diplomats said in the Syrian capital.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad set out his viewpoint at talks this week with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a staunchly pro-Israeli republican law maker who regularly visits Damascus, where Hamas's exiled leaders are based.

A source familiar with the meeting said Assad told Specter Israel's offensive jeopardized the chances of peace in the long run. The way to deal with Hamas, Assad told Specter, was to stop asking Syria to pressure the group and push for a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the source said.

The Israeli assault, which has killed almost 400 people in Hams-ruled Gaza, has further divided Arab governments on how to deal with the Palestinian Islamist movement, which is also backed by Iran.

Several Western-backed Arab governments, including Egypt, say Hamas shares the blame for the attacks.

Syria described the offensive as a "massacre" and allowed protests in front of the Egyptian embassy in Damascus against Cairo's cooperation with the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

Another European diplomat said championing Arab resistance served Syria well. "The Syrians see Arab governments like Egypt as getting undermined as a result of this, not them," the diplomat said.