The Israeli View Of The Syrian Civil War

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. Photo by Michal Fattal

Attack On Syrian Chemical Stockpiles Could Lead To 'Broader Campaign,' Says IDF Chief Of Staff -- Haaretz

Benny Gantz said that if Hezbollah or another terror group were to get hold of Syria's chemical weapons cache, Israeli military action could become 'broader' than originally intended.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said on Tuesday that if Syria's chemical weapons were to get into the wrong hands, such as those of Hezbollah, IDF military action could turn into an unintentionally broad campaign.

On Monday, a senior Israeli official said that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has taken precautions to avoid chemical weapons falling into rebel hands.

Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, Gantz reiterated that the security of chemical weapons caches in Syria has recently increased, but added that there was no guarantee that this would remain the status quo.

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More News On Israel's Views And Positions On Syria's Civil War

Gantz: Attack against Syria could spark regional conflict -- Jerusalem Post
Israeli military chief says Syria has stepped up security around its chemical weapons stocks -- Washington Post/AP
Israel: Syria collapse has been discussed with US -- AP
Liberman: Transfer of non-conventional weapons to Hezbollah would be ‘clear casus belli’ for Israel -- Times of Israel
Transfer of weapons to Hezbollah is Israel's red line for intervention in Syria -- New Europe
FM: WMD transfer to Hezbollah would justify war -- Jerusalem Post
Analysis: Red lines and deterrence -- Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post

Israeli FM: Syrian Rebels Have Rejected Israeli Assistance

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (photo credit: Flash90)

Liberman: Syrian Rebels Rejected Israeli Assistance -- Turkish Weekly

Foreign minister tells Turkish journalists Israel unwilling to apologize to Turkey over 'Mavi Marmara' deaths but ready to repair bilateral relations, adds Israel will not compromise on safety of citizens.

The Syrian opposition rejected an Israeli offer of assistance, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said in an interview with Turkish media published Tuesday.

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Update: Israeli FM says Syrian rebels rejected their help; willing to hold talks with Turkey -- News Track India/ANI

My Comment: Even though the assistance that has been offered is humanitarian .... for the Syrian rebels that is one road that they are not willing to accept.

Expecting The Civil War To Escalate In Syria, Israel Is Bolstering It's Defenses In The Golan Heights

IDF Bolstering Defenses Along Syrian Border -- Jerusalem Post

Fearing advanced Syrian weapons landing in rogue hands, IDF upgrading border infrastructure, preparing for Syrian refugees.

The army is beefing up its defenses along the Syrian border due to concerns that terrorists are planning an attack in the Golan Heights, OC Division 36 Brig.-Gen. Tamir Hyman said on Thursday.

Hyman briefed reporters during a tour of border military positions throughout the Golan Heights. Division 36 is tasked with defending the Golan and the border with Syria.

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My Comment: I guess they are expecting the fighting in Syria to escalate with some of it reaching their borders.

An Israel - Syria Peace Agreement?

'US Secretly Talking To Damascus About Israel-Syria Peace' -- Jerusalem Post

Kuwaiti paper 'Al-Rai' reports Syrian officials told Dennis Ross they are prepared to distance themselves from Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas.

The US has secretly communicated with Syrian officials in recent weeks in hopes of brokering a comprehensive peace agreement between Syria and Israel, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai reported on Saturday.

According to a German agency DPA report, sources told Al-Rai that the US was contacted by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem with the message that Damascus was ready to renew dialogue with the Israelis and reach a peace deal.

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My Comment: Every six months I read the same story from some Arab or Israeli newspaper .... rumors of peace talks between Israel and Syria. But like all the other cases .... including (I am sure) this one .... nothing is going to come out of it.

More Talk Of War In The Middle East

MIDDLE EAST: Looming Regional War Involving Syria, Israel And Lebanon -- Or More Hot Air? -- L.A. Times

Israel and Syria have exchanged heated words in the last few days, leading many to wonder whether this new round of threats is leading up to a regional war, or is merely a bluffing contest to maintain the status quo that allows both governments to eschew domestic problems for the sake of state security.

"The Syrians cannot afford to go to war, and [Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor] Lieberman hit on a major stress point for them," retired Lebanese general and military expert Elias Hanna told The Times. "This is critical for the Syrians, so maybe they are trying to tie themselves to Hezbollah and Iran in order to put obstacles for Israel to wage a war.”

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My Comment: It appears that the winds of war are now brewing again in the Middle East. The sad fact is that all sides do not only want to go back to war again .... but they are eager to go down that direction.

The US is the only international body that can stop this descent into chaos .... but so far the US administration and President Obama have been completely ineffective in conducting diplomacy and persuasion in this region.