In his column in the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra, Dr. Sa'id Mesalem attacked statements by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who had said that Syria's demands for launching negotiations were impossible.

Mesalem called on Israel to learn from its July 2006 defeat, and to realize that it was impossible to continue with the occupation without harsh and painful responses. He said that Syria's demands impossible demands were indeed possible, and even essential, if Israel wished to continue to exist.

Source: Al-Thawra, Syria, July 24, 2007