Why did Israel attack Syria now, and why did the Syrians admit it?

I think the strike came after all parties admitted that Hisbuallah is involved in the conflict in Syria. I believe Israel's attacks on Syria is to provide the regime a cover/excuse/reasons to explain Hisbullah's involvement. The argument is now that Israel is on the side of the Rebel and Hisbullah is on the side that is against Israel.

Syria/Iran/Hezbollah now look like men who are flaccid, men with no steel! The weakness they now exhibit in the Middle East and around the world will only grow should they not respond. If they do respond it will be lights out for the axis of evil. The moment of truth has arrived.

Isn't one possible answer that Israel hopes Iran will retaliate, giving Israel an excuse the launch an all-out attack on Iran?

well done Israel. It is time to act now before it is too late. The stockpile of chemical weapon of Assad must be destroyed now in the sense of urgent before fall in the hands of Israel enemy. Assad for sure must go. What about his chemical pile. I don't understand why Obama is doubting to order immediate aerial destruction. Ok let Israel do the job.

Now, the interesting question is why is Palestretz is so shy as to share details about what is going on in Lybia, Tunisia, and Egypt. At least its English speaking edition. Zaman in Russian edition sports 3 page editorial on the subject. JPost, hebrew edition, had a monthly from its well regarded reporter. And rest of Israeli media aflame about the troubles. Pelestretz, on the other hand, is all pinky pie. Sharia in Lybia? - ears plugged. Sharia in Tunisia? - ears plugged. Sharia in Egypt? - ears plugged. Now, they have a report from the constellation of Tau - Kita. About things they can't hear about because they have... technical difficulties.

Why is the condemnation of this attack by western states so muted? Why would Israel attack Syria without any "direct" provocation and risk so much for a small attack? It is the western world which is using Israel to exploit the situation in Syria and disregard the effects of their plots on the populations in the middle east

His favorite tactic in the hornet's nest which is the Middle East. More tension makes it easier for him to mount an attack against Iran.

why İsrael try to peace with Syria? because syria wars too conservative rebels. it is too danger for middle east

Fortuneately the number of people waking up to the propaganda machine's failing integrity is growing. I've seen videos of a bombed-out "Research Facility" and a bombed- out "Convoy". Both were short and inconclusive. No one seems to notice that both sides are free to lie with impunity; the real reason for "whatever" happened was to draw attention to Syria and the much-touted "need" to send foreign troops in. Our press told us that it was a chemical weapons plant- funny, they never mentioned that when Hillary was trying to invade- and air- defense missiles aren't a threat (this one might reach 30 miles, maybe) to population centers. So what is really going on? Seems that Palestinian statehood and an Israeli withdrawal to original borders might make more sense that all of these brat-child tantrums.

Here's my hypothesis: Obama told Syria the US would get involved if the Syrians resorted to chemical weapons. Syria did use at least one shell with chemicals in it on an attack on Homs. Maybe it was a mistake, who knows. So a price has to be paid by the Syrians. Voila, Israel attacks a chemical weapons manufacturing facility.

If you want to know what Israel is doing, ask the US government. Because Israel has little control over its foreign policy, and its actions outside its borders.

Israel does not announce it's responsible after every actions like this...this reveals how uneasy they are...

Artilce 51, UN Charter: "Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council ...."

I can't help but wonder about how and why Irael suddenly decides to attack Syrian military targets. For two years they have done nothing at all, and then.. (Yes, I know about the Iranian 'threat', which I wouldn't take seriously). And don't tell me Israel cares about the Syrian people. This is all about showing off! It's all about telling the rest of the world: 'We don't care what you think about us, we do whatever we please'. By doing so, you will isolate yourselves even more from both the Western and the Arabian world.

Why is it OK for the U.S. to supply Israel with all sorts of weapons and not OK for Syria to supply whoever they choose with whatever they choose?

To divert attention from the Palestinian issues, to grab more lands and build more illegal settlements and to help in the attempt to overthrow Assad from power. America and israel think that once they remove Assad from power, Syria will become pro-America, but it will not because those who want to remove Assad, hate America more than they hate Assad himself, but America and Israel are too dumb to realize this.

And if the terrorists retaliate, the gates of hell will open on them - and they know it. There is no "balance of terror" or MAD between Israel and its enemies. If there were one, Israel would not exist. We need to be much stronger than all our genocidal enemies combined in order to survive, so they know what price they will pay if they try to attack us. Obviously, armchair terrorists posters will beg to differ. So the next war will be revelation to them. They can do us damage; we can turn their countries into sandboxes (and I am not even talking about Israel’s unconventional capabilities).

It seems that Israelis continue to have no sense of what is legitimate and what is not within the international community. It is legitimate for Israel to secretely keep nuclear weapons (the only country in the region) but not for Iran. It is illegitimate for other nations to exchange/purchase weapons because they have "aggressive" intents, but it is ok for Israel to purchase and use weapons to ILLEGALY (according to international Law) occupy a foreign territory (West bank and East Jerusalem) for over 40 years. This is really surreal !

Were subject to deadly bombardment almost every day.. Iran can only be, stopped only by the Israeli and US military. The sooner the better. I biggest worry - what will happen after the bombs and missiles fly???

The danger of "sleeper" Hezbollah moles is certainly very real. It is their easiest way to stike Israel and smuggling explosives and weapons is quite feasible, if done over a long time. And there has been a long time. Defence involves intelligence work,instead of military action Israeli intellingence has been known to be up to the task. Let us hope it finds them in time.

Is there any open an unbiased writers out there? As this one reeks of biased and political overtones

The reputation of the Israeli Press decreases with every journalistic "service" to the IOF. Defense Analyst Amos Harel tries to tread on the impossible path between being a loyal protagonist of Israel's aggression, and maintaining his credibility as an honest media professional. But Harel lives and works in Israel -- which has (according to foreign sources...) MASSIVE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES, as well as BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS (developed in Nes Ziona laboratories) and CHEMICAL WEAPONS. And Israel MENTAL Condition, due to the Continued ILLEGAL OCCUPATION of Palestinian and Syrian Land, is (also) rather unstable... (for more on this subject see http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-falls-near-bottom-of-press-freedom-rankings.premium-1.500640)

What do you expect from a rogue warmingering entity,then? israel was created by wars and terrorism - Irgun and Gangstern for example - and without any bloodshed israel will feel missing something like an adict.

Hmmm Interesting, he!! Has any one given a thought that the Syrian Regime, through intermediaries, has asked Israel to attack certain targets of mutual interest, so that certain hardware are not ending up in the wrong hands!? And in exchange for what? Yep, you guessed it, using some air space for some game activities! It sounds so o o ridiculous but think about it!!

It is baiting Iran to attack it so that it can counter attack with US support, funding, and armaments. It has been trying to find an excuse for a very long time.

weapons ( gas) and anti-aircraft missiles have already been transported to Hezbollah.

What time narrowminded black/white politics do have an end ?

There is no scenario involving U.S. troops or civilians that would work out well for Israel for more than a few days.

The US blasts Netanyahu on a weekly basis, and have gone as far as the Jewish Lobby will let them in put the whole blame of the failure of the negotiations squarely on Israel's shoulders. It is obvious they will not let Bibi become the next PM. Mofaz is ready to tip the balance by merging with Yesh Atid. Liebermen is threatening to bolt. What would you expect a sinking politicians to do? And please stop dragging Hezbollah into this, and stop saying that Hezbollah is behind the Burgas affairs. This does not improve your credibility. I commented on that yesterday, but apparently you disregard the feedback.

I try to analyze world events based on realpolitik. I don't see how it benefits Israel's interest to help either side of the Syrian conflict. Israel may not like Assad. But he is at least a secular autocrat. There is a lot that Syria can do to stir trouble in Israel's northern border, but Assad, possibly fearing an all-out Israeli invasion and a loss of power, has kept the conflict with Israel to tit-for-tat proportions. The Syrian opposition contains elements of Islamic radicals and may be even worse for Israel. My take is that unless there is compelling reason Israel can take advantage of Syria's civil war, its best interests is to sit quietly and let its enemies fight it out among themselves. I don't see how Israel can be bothered to intervene in Syria. Turkey has far more interests in the area, and is politically much closer to attacking Syria than Israel is.