Assad: Israel leading the Middle East to war

Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Wednesday that Israel is not serious about its intentions to make peace with Damascus as evidenced by "its conduct which is leading the region to war." The Syrian leader made the statements during a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos in Damascus on Wednesday. Netanyahu's bureau said in response that Israel seeks peace negotiations with Syria, but Damascus has thwarted every effort to start the process. "Unfortunately Syria is heaping obstacles and preventing negotiations and the formulation of understandings that could bring peace, security and prosperity to all sides," a bureau spokesperson said. "The statements by the senior Syrian leadership are most regrettable; in reality, the complete opposite is true. The prime minister has said many times the he would be willing to travel to any place in the world, at any time, in order to open peace negotiations with Syria without preconditions." Earlier on Wednesday, Assad's foreign minister issued a strongly-worded warning to Israel that a future war between the two countries would be a "comprehensive" clash that would "come to your cities," CBS News reported.