Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Monday 25 Sivan 5773 attended a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. The senior minister spoke about the Russian-built S-300 anti-aircraft system. Ya’alon briefed committee members that Israel is continuing to monitor the system and its imminent arrival in Syria. Despite statements to the contrary in the media, Ya’alon reports the system has yet to arrive in Syrian hands.
Ya’alon added that even if the missile system arrives in Syria this will not occur before 2014. Ya’alon acknowledged that different cabinet ministers have made contradictory statements but his report is authorized by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Regarding the ongoing civil war in Syria, Ya’alon explained Israel’s policy remains unchanged and it does not plan to become involved for as long as Israel’s security interests are not compromised.
“Russia has given Assad a tailwind regarding his political and military policies. Assad is backed by Iran and Hizbullah. Turkey supports the Islamic Brotherhood and the Saudis support salafisim and Qatar backs the Islamic Brotherhood.”
“We will not interfere in the civil war for as long as it does not harm our interests. For as long as there is no attempt to smuggle weapons to terror organizations, headed first and foremost by Hizbullah. Barring any attempt to take control of chemical weapons or heating up the border by incidents leaking over into our area we will not become involved. Syria is quite divided. Assad supports 40% of the area, especially the Alawite area in Damascus. 80% of Halab is controlled by the opposition and therefore, he does not have total control and a decisive decision is not on the horizon.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
We are made of stone when it comes to Syria, and Qusair is proof positive of this.
As for the U.N., it is impotent as presently constituted. Why even bother to have it around?
We need another world body with power to timely act when need be. The results of inaction are now all over the Middle East, and we reap what we have sown.
We were naïve to expect neighboring countries to remain indifferent while the Syrian people on both sides suffer.