Israel's foreign minister today said Damascus would be defeated and President Bashar al-Assad would lose power in any future conflict in response to Syria's accusation Israel was pushing for a war.
"Our message must be clear to Assad. You will not just lose the next war, you and your family will lose power. Neither you nor the Assad family will remain in power," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a speech near Tel Aviv.
Mr Lieberman, who heads an ultranationalist party, is known for his fiery rhetoric and his latest remarks drew condemnation from the Israeli opposition benches.
Mr Assad said on Wednesday Israel was driving the region towards war. His foreign minister said Israel was acting like a thug.
Despite an increase in war talk in recent days, there have been no signs that military tensions have risen between the neighbours.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office late on Wednesday appeared to back away from any war of words with Mr Assad, describing the Syrian leader's comments only as "unfortunate". It said Mr Netanyahu was ready to talk to Syria without preconditions and at any time.
Mr Assad made his remarks two days after Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak, sounding a cautionary note, said "the absence of an agreement with Syria could lead to armed conflict that could develop into all-out war".
Mr Barak, as prime minister, held peace talks with Syria in 2000 that faltered over the future of the Golan Heights, a strategic Syrian plateau captured by Israel in a 1967 war. As defence chief, he has been pushing for new negotiations.
Indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, mediated by Turkey, broke down during the Israeli invasion of Gaza in December 2008.
Reuters