The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

Israel on Thursday played down media reports of heightened tension along the Syrian border, insisting that there was little likelihood of military confrontation between the two neighbors. "Israel has no intention of attacking Syria, and the latter says only it is ready to respond to any attack, so the risk of a military confrontation is very low," Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon Ramon told public radio. His comments came as Israeli newspapers splashed front-page stories claiming the Israeli military was on high alert along the border amid reports that Syria has been boosting its armed forces. The Jerusalem Post said the increased tension along the border, as well as in the Gaza Strip, led Defence Minister Ehud Barak to cancel a planned trip to Germany. Defence spokesman Shlomo Dror told AFP Syria has staged military manoeuvres and made other preparations for possible confrontation in the event Hezbollah seeks to avenge the February 12 killing of its military leader Imad Mugnieh, which the Shiite militia blames on Israel.