• Published 02:20 08.02.10
  • Latest update 04:09 08.02.10

Israel must remove Syria from the Iran axis

For successful renewal of negotiations with Damascus, Israel needs the United States to be involved.

By Amos Harel Tags: Iran Israel news

Iran's declaration on Sunday that it is moving toward higher levels of uranium enrichment has once again increased tensions as the West pushes for more severe sanctions. On the face of it, the announcement by President Mahmoud Ahamadinejad contradicts his statement last week that he was willing to resume talks on last year's compromise proposal. Under this latter scenario, 75 percent of Iran's enriched uranium would be sent abroad to be further enriched under international supervision.

In practice, Ahmadinejad's announcements go well together. It seems the Iranians recognize that the United States, and its Western allies at least, will stop falling for Iran's trickery and resolutely move ahead toward sanctions. So Tehran is raising the stakes. If the international community turns down the new offer, which is essentially only partial acquiescence to the compromise discussed several months ago, Iran will take yet another threatening step toward the nuclear threshold.

As expected, the West denounced Ahmadinejad's latest statement. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who has been commenting each week on Iran's nuclear ambitions, called the announcement "very disappointing" and said it is not too late for effective sanctions against Tehran. The German government also announced that its patience with Iran has run out.

To be expected, the Achilles' heel remains China, which continues to warn against confrontation with Tehran. Nonetheless, at this stage, it's hard to assess the extent to which the Obama administration plans to be tough with the Iranians. Israel's hope is that the Americans, after the embarrassment they experienced with North Korea last year under fairly similar circumstances, and in view of the criticism of their handling of the international arena, will be tough enough this time.

Everything that is happening far from Israel has immediate implications closer to home. The Iranian crisis helped contribute to the threats exchanged by Israel and Syria last week. The person to last comment on this was the U.S. national security adviser, James Jones, who warned that Iran may respond to further sanctions with an attack on Israel, vis Hezbollah and Hamas.

The most important link in the radical axis, which Jones avoided mentioning, is Syria. Damascus' involvement in such a confrontation would transform it into a regional clash. Syrian President Bashar Assad has warned that his country would stand with Lebanon, "in case of Israeli aggression against it." Such concerns apparently contributed to the comments by Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the need for an agreement between Israel and Syria to prevent war. The Syrians, whose actions regarding Hezbollah include goading Israel, responded with acerbic rhetoric. Fuel was added to the fire by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who made an unnecessary threat regarding the fall of the Assad regime. The United States, which is trying to cool tempers in the region, is now preparing to send an ambassador to Damascus. Still, it's doubtful whether Washington fully realizes the size of the danger.

Meanwhile, in the coming months, Hezbollah is expected to complete its military preparations and finish fixing the damage it suffered during the Second Lebanon War. In parallel with preparations for a possible confrontation with Hezbollah, Israel must do all it can to remove Syria from the Iranian coalition.

This is where the recommendation by the defense minister and his chief of staff comes from on renewing negotiations with Damascus. But for such efforts to have a good chance of success, Israel needs the United States to be involved.

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  • 48. 0 0
    # 5 CJK --You're Wrong
    • Stephen A
    • 16.02.10
    • 16:21

    ..Washington has worked with, agaisnt and for Iran since the early 50's. American experts do know what's going on in Iran How dare you talk such trash. The real issue is that iran is far from both a bomb and the capability of puttin it on a missle. Israael has "created a dither" over a crazy guy's bark is worse than its bite--or no bite at all.

  • 47. 0 0
    Syria
    • Kim Rogers
    • 11.02.10
    • 11:59

    Unfortunately for Syria, biblical prophecy had declared in Isa 17:1 'Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins'. See also Jer 49:27 and Amos 1:5. God will give the power to Israel to accomplish this task, but Israel will also not escape God's wrath. We are in end times when all eyes will be upon God and not blaming each other for their sins.

  • 46. 0 0
    observation
    • potobac
    • 10.02.10
    • 21:03

    I find it amusing that zionists can go on at length about the difficulties of dealing with Syria because it is so evil, while they had no problems at all with Israel supporting apartheid South Africa.

  • 45. 0 0
    Returning Land Captured in 1967? What a Precedent!
    • Reader
    • 09.02.10
    • 10:18

    Maybe Syria will have to take it back by force. Israel certainly doesn't want the PA thinking like that.

  • 44. 0 0
  • 43. 0 0
    a jew
    • Jasper
    • 09.02.10
    • 04:41

    Have you seen your doctor lately about adjusting your meds?

  • 42. 0 0
    #39, You don't know your history
    • Gary
    • 09.02.10
    • 03:24

    and history like folly repeats itself. Appeasement makes Israel an even smaller country and will make Barak lose even more sleep-he may be kept awake by the sound of Syrian,Russian,and Iranian tanks approaching Jerusalem from the Golan....

  • 41. 0 0
    It cannot happen by negotiation
    • Gary
    • 09.02.10
    • 03:20

    It's strictly wishful thinking to separate these two buddies through just talking about it-buddies on Tehran's terms as Assad is in the proverbial "sidecar" . When the leadership of Israel wakes up tomorrow, there will still be Iran busily enriching uranium, Syria threatening with missiles,etc. In other words, Israel must make the tough decisions it heretofore is avoiding. Just business as usual won't cut it. Tel Aviv may not be here tomorrow.....

  • 40. 0 0
    Why do you think Syria wants to be removed. They benefit
    • ks
    • 08.02.10
    • 19:33

    They train al quaeda against the US are building weapons brought in from North korea and basically have a terrible dictatorship which as Alawites are a branch of shia Iran. syria disrupts Lebanon and is a negative influence.It is naieve to think that a weak inexperience American president will know how to handle a double speak Syria.

  • 39. 0 0
    ...return the Golan then!
    • American
    • 08.02.10
    • 18:12

    Wow, with all the brains that the Zionists can muster around the world, still no one can see the price of that weening out. Of course if you want your own cake and eat it, my grandmother always said , like all grand mothers, you cannot have it both ways.

  • 38. 0 0
    #5 Cipora, why do we waste our time with you?
    • Lou Medel
    • 08.02.10
    • 16:22

    "washington lives in a state of denial." Cipora These remarks are typical of you. A self-projection of you and Israel. No one doubts zionist delusions. Salaam/Shalom

  • 37. 0 0
    Iran doesn't need Syria & breaking the alliance achieves nothing
    • zionist forever
    • 08.02.10
    • 15:52

    Ending the Syria / Iran alliance won't change any Iranian policy or make it easier to make Iran give up their nuclear ambitions. All that would change is Iran would be able to stop paying Assads debts to Russia. It suits Iran to have Syria as an ally but they don't need it, its Iran that pulls the strings not the other way around The price of Syria ending its alliance with Iran is: 1) The Golan 2) A share of Kineret water 3) Israel do something about the 500,000 palestinian refugees in Syria 4) US military aid to replace the Iranian military aid. 5) Foreign cash handouts to try sort out their economy. Do we want to pay that price just to break the Iran / Syria alliance? We don't need any deals with Syria and treaties for the sake of treaties is not responsible policy and can damage the countries best interest. Right now Israel has alot more to loose by paying Assads price for a treaty that is does without one. If the country does better without a treaty then thats the best solution

  • 36. 0 0
    #16 Well, you certainly think big, Stuart
    • Johnboy
    • 08.02.10
    • 13:51

    S: "There is only one way: Remove Assad & his thugs from the regime and establish a democratic government with moderate Sunni majority, as Iraq did by establishing a moderate Shiite majority after the removal of Saddam." The Iraqis didn't do that, Stuart. The US Army of Occupation did that. What you would require is an IDF occupation of ALL of Syria for, what, somewhere between 5 to 10 years? Israel couldn't even manage to tame Southern Lebanon, even after two decades of trying. But since Israel couldn't do that with even the splinter of a minnow then it should try, try again, only this time against a country that is much more powerful that pissant Lebanon. Just one question tho': What if Israel tries, only to see its army get its arse kicked?

  • 35. 0 0
    We tried a first cease fire with Hamas , but it didn't work
    • Joseph .E
    • 08.02.10
    • 13:44

    We tried for a second time thru Egypt mediation to renew a cease fire with Hamas , And it neither didn't work . We tried negotiations with Damascus thru Turkia mediations and it didn't work , A.Harel say again "renewing negotiations with Damascus" . Let me guess , If not A.Harel , A.Eldar would answer that the first negotiations with Damascus didn't work because "the gaps were too wide" "like the kineret lenghth" . All is left is for Kadafi to mediate and say 'dry the kineret" . Bwa ha ha ha.

  • 34. 0 0
    What should U.S. Ambassador to Syria say to Assad ?
    • Joseph .E
    • 08.02.10
    • 13:16

    Assad may be a gangster but he is not stupid . Assad and gangs wouldn't risk to loose their regime , their palaces , their wealth just to show that they stands by Iran-hezbanon-hamas and fatah . What goes for Assad goes also for Hezbanon Gov't . Assad could always relay such message via Turkia . Assad statements and threats are for persia and pan arab street consumption . No one is responsible for OIC-Arab League murderous internal rivaleries and tribal divisions . For these exist since the 7th century and will continue to exist because of their culture . Since the 7th century Arabs are ruled by a cartel of authoritarian regimes, practiced in the arts of oppression. Their role model is state-sponsored terrorism, hate-education, inherent domestic and regional violence, endemic unpredictability, instability, volatility, fragmentation, religious and political intolerance, suppression of human rights, nepotism and treachery. In less than half decade our democracy culture promotes diligent work and technological innovation, including ways to turn deserts into gardens. We read books , they burn books . They cripple people for life by cutting off hands and other body parts, We restore damaged limbs and bring unprecedented mobility to paraplegics . We make pilgrimage to the moon and space , they make pilgrimage to Mecca. Our women sometimes cover their heads with helmets (war-jets, space-shuttles), Their women must keep their faces covered with veils . Agreements concluded in the Arab/Muslim Middle East cannot be more credible and durable than the policies of Arab/Muslim regimes. Why would Arab/Muslim regimes comply with agreements signed with the infidel, while they do not comply with most agreements signed with fellow-Muslims?! Is it reasonable to assume that Arabs would accord the Jewish State a durable-peace, which they have not been able to accord one another?! the above is a mixture of ideas taken from Bill Levinson and Ambassador(ret.) Yoram Ettinger, respectively at http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=20408 and http://www.jewishindy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11530

  • 33. 0 0
    No Sweat Mark of Lewiston
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 08.02.10
    • 12:22

    "How do you plan on administering either or both after the conquest or removal of their governments?" - Mark of Lewiston No problem, after being welcomed in Damascus and Tehran by rose throwing crowds of cheering people, Israel will be able to withdraw as a subservient and friendly government magically appears. If that fails to happen, just look how easy and carefree Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has been for the last 43 years! Syria first, and then Iran. It will be a cakewalk.

  • 32. 0 0
    pseudo "jew"
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 08.02.10
    • 12:05

    evin prison would be an excellent place for you.

  • 31. 0 0
    The German government also announced that its patience with Iran
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 12:03

    "The German government also announced that its patience with Iran has run out. " YOUR ZIONIST SET UP IN GERMANY AND NOT GERMAN GOVERNMENT!!!1OH MY GOD WHAT AN IDIOT IS WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE!!!DOES HE POSSES POSITIVE IQ??OR JUST ANOTHER MENTALLY SICK PEDOPHILE TALMUDIC IQLESS CRIMINAL

  • 30. 0 0
    AND ZIONIST PUPPETS ARE SAYING
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:55

    "BRING WORLD TOGETHER AGAINST IRAN" WHY DONT THEY SAY SAME FOR ZIONIST MURDER ECONOMY "LETS WORK TOGETHER AND NOT AGAINST EACHOTHER IN COMPETITION BASED ECONOMY AND WITHOUT DEBT" WHY DONT THEY SAY THIS!!!!1 IT IS ECONOMY THAT TORTURE WORLDWIDE GOYIM AND NOT IRAN!!!IRAN IS AT LEAST SPEAKING THE TRUTH COMPARING TO THOSE CRIMINALS!!!!

  • 29. 0 0
    AND THEY PREACH ME HOW FREE MARKET IS THE BEST
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:52

    WHILE SOONER OR LATER A JEW BUYS EVERYTHING!!!THE ONE WHO CONTROL MONEY AND MEDIA CONTROLS EVERYTHING LIKE YOU!!!1 ONLY JEWISH PROTOCOLS AND WHAT IS GOOD FOR JEWS IN THE NEWS AND NOTHING ELSE!!!

  • 28. 0 0
    #16, Stuart
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:51

    it is not a good idea to threaten regime change in syria. however, assad would be well advised to keep quiet and stay out of wars.

  • 27. 0 0
    #12, Mark, no one wants to conquer anyone
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:48

    this has been explained to you before. your mantra of "if you break it you own" is not a military doctrine or strategy.

  • 26. 0 0
    THIS IS SO TRUE, YOU FUCKED UP EVERYTHING
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:46

    10. IN ORDER TO PUT PUBLIC OPINION INTO OUR HANDS WE MUST BRING IT INTO A STATE OF BEWILDERMENT BY GIVING EXPRESSION FROM ALL SIDES TO SO MANY CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS AND FOR SUCH LENGTH OF TIME AS WILL SUFFICE TO MAKE THE "GOYIM" LOSE THEIR HEADS IN THE LABYRINTH AND COME TO SEE THAT THE BEST THING IS TO HAVE NO OPINION OF ANY KIND IN MATTERS POLITICAL, which it is not given to the public to understand, because they are understood only by him who guides the public. This is the first secret.

  • 25. 0 0
    WIPING OUT GOYIM WHO OPPOSE YOU?!!!
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:45

    1. What form of administrative rule can be given to communities in which corruption has penetrated everywhere, communities where riches are attained only by the clever surprise tactics of semi-swindling tricks; where loseness reigns: where morality is maintained by penal measures and harsh laws but not by voluntarily accepted principles: where the feelings towards faith and country are obligated by cosmopolitan convictions? What form of rule is to be given to these communities if not that despotism which I shall describe to you later? We shall create an intensified centralization of government in order to grip in our hands all the forces of the community. We shall regulate mechanically all the actions of the political life of our subjects by new laws. These laws will withdraw one by one all the indulgences and liberties which have been permitted by the GOYIM, and our kingdom will be distinguished by a despotism of such magnificent proportions as to be at any moment and in every place in a position to wipe out any GOYIM who oppose us by deed or word.

  • 24. 0 0
    AND DOESNT THE ARTICLE CRIMINIAL KNOWS
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:42

    THAT IT IS A JEW THAT IS PRINTING LOANS THAT IS IS ZIONIST MASONRY SLAMMING BOMBS IN ME THAT IT IS ZIONIST PEDOPHILE TORTURING GOYIM IN GULAGS THAT IT IS ALL ZIONIST MASONIC CONSPIRACY? HOW COME THE ARTICLE CRIMINAL DIDNT FIGURE THAT OUT BY NOW?

  • 23. 0 0
    Nothing left to negotiate for but wars ...
    • tom
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:39

    Syria is not going to vanish and so its demand for its occupied land. Israel has the IDF and Syria has Hezbollah and Hamas. Syria is calling for peace, but Israel does not want to give the occupied land back and want Syria to stop supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. Nothing left to negotiate for but wars now and then.

  • 22. 0 0
    AND CANT YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE "REMOVING"
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:36

    DESTROYING SOMETHING IN EVERY STATE JUST TO FIT YOUR CONSPIRACY AND MENTAL SICKNESS AND STUPIDITY WHILE IT IS YOU THE BIGGEST CRIMINALS OF ALL TIME??? CANT YOU SEE THAT!!!1

  • 21. 0 0
    and you just destroyed and massacred two states with US army
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:34

    you fucking talmudic pdophile!!!! and you want to destroy more while it is your conglomerate the biggest racist war pig hate evil machine the worst fucking state on the globe!!!!1and you posses WMD something that iraq and afghanistan did not!!!so why dont they fucking slam you you are the biggest threat to the world!!!Q! al qaida is your company!!! all the bullshit is yours!!!!

  • 20. 0 0
    fucking war pigs conspiring all the time
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:28

    4. In order to give the GOYIM no time to think and take note, their minds must be diverted towards industry and trade. Thus, all the nations will be swallowed up in the pursuit of gain and in the race for it will not take note of their common foe. But again, in order that freedom may once for all disintegrate and ruin the communities of the GOYIM, we must put industry on a speculative basis: the result of this will be that what is withdrawn from the land by industry will slip through the hands and pass into speculation, that is, to our classes.

  • 19. 0 0
    Still, it's doubtful whether Washington fully realizes the size o
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:23

    Still, it's doubtful whether Washington fully realizes the size of the danger. " your stupidity and talmud and zionist protocols are the only danger. nothing else is a danger than yourself and your al qaida.

  • 18. 0 0
    the U.S. national security adviser, James Jones,
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:22

    zionist pedophile puppet and not US nat sec adviser

  • 17. 0 0
    Israel's hope is that the Americans, after the embarrassment they
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:21

    "Israel's hope is that the Americans, after the embarrassment they experienced with North Korea last year under fairly similar circumstances," north korea is zionist masonic prison. so this make no sense. it is lies.

  • 16. 0 0
    There is only one way: Remove Assad & his thugs from the regime
    • Stuart
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:20

    and establish a democratic government with moderate Sunni majority, as Iraq did by establishing a moderate Shiite majority after the removal of Saddam. Assad & thugs should be put on trial by international courts for war crimes and political assassinations committed in Lebanon and Syria.

  • 15. 0 0
    and do you do anything else then conspire?
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:20

    cant you see that you are asking all the time what would be good for jews, and what others should do not to serve themself but what would be best for jews? cant you see that you are one big egoistical mentally sick piece of shit that only cares for his ass and nothing else?

  • 14. 0 0
    and comparing iran to israhell
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:16

    they told more truth out than you ever did and will probably

  • 13. 0 0
    you are one big shitty lie and conspiracy
    • a jew
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:15

    and haters of god and all the nations on the globe. thats all about you. you are criticizing everyone while you are the problem yourself. but who cares it is the end anyway. if you knew god like you preach you would knew that months ago.

  • 12. 0 0
    Yonatan - Administering Conquered Syria?
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:12

    You and Lieberman and a few other posters seem hell bent on war with Iran or Syria or both. How do you plan on administering either or both after the conquest or removal of their governments? Where are you planning to get the occupation force or the means to set up you "approved" government? Or do you just plan on taking the chance that everything will be hunky dory after you remove any semblance of government? If so, how do you plan on dealing with an al Qaida of more fundamentalist regime replacing what you destroy? You break it, you fix it or live with it broken.

  • 11. 0 0
    Israel needs the US to hold the milk bottle
    • John Canadian
    • 08.02.10
    • 11:00

    Because the zionists fart higher than their hole (French Canadian joke)

  • 10. 0 0
    NO TO LEFTEST CAPITULATION!!!
    • Steven
    • 08.02.10
    • 10:46

    I'm sick of leftists, who see our national homeland as nothing but lots of real estate to barter away to the regional thugs. Enough of this constant cry for capitulation...long live Lieberman!!! May we be a nation of Jews with backbone and pride, and not a bunch of self-flagellating weaklings!

  • 9. 0 0
    Don't you guys get tired of writing the same things
    • GS
    • 08.02.10
    • 09:23

    For as long as I can remember, your editorials have repeated the same old tired mantras. OK, we heard you, even if we don't agree. Don't you even get tired of writing the same things over and over again?

  • 8. 0 0
    There are only 2 ways of "removing Syria from the Iran axis"
    • Yonatan
    • 08.02.10
    • 09:17

    Remove Iran as a major player in the Middle East, this can be done by economic sanctions, toppling the regime, or use of force. Without Iran, Damascus will be revealed as a paper tiger. Remove Assad and the ruling Alawite Muslim sect. The Alawite constitute a minority of the Syrian population, and are anathema to all other Muslim sects.

  • 7. 0 0
    Syria won't be removed from Iran axis!
    • world peace
    • 08.02.10
    • 09:04

    Syria would not make peace with Israel till she gets back the Golan Heights and Israel would not give up Golan Heights since it is her source of water then it is almost impossible for Israel to remove Syria from Iran axis.

  • 6. 0 0
    Syria will fight to the last drop of Hezzbola and Hamas"
    • Rob
    • 08.02.10
    • 07:41

    said professor Eyal Zisser (see Avi Issacharoff article in Haaretz). Assad can't afford war and he can't afford peace (he'll loose his power), so he lives best with atmosphere of crisis. He got really worried when Barak/Netanyahu made signs they may give back the Golan, so he immediately increased his demands, asking to "repatriate" to Israel 3 million Pal refugees, as a condition for peace.

  • 5. 0 0
    comment
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 08.02.10
    • 06:51

    "it's doubtful whether washington fully realises the size of the danger...." washington lives in a state of denial.

  • 4. 0 0
    Send Gideon Levy
    • John
    • 08.02.10
    • 06:30

    Gideon thinks he has an answer for everthing. Send him to Syria and see if he can fix it.

  • 3. 0 0
    Israel, Syria and the Axis of Non-Evil
    • Cynic
    • 08.02.10
    • 05:45

    Constant warmongering and rhetoric from successive Israel governments has led to this situation. It's not really surprising that some Middle East states are in the process of realignment of their alliances to address the common threat - a democratic state and haven for Holocaust survivors, metamorphosed into a nuclear armed theocracy apparently hell-bent on starting World War Three.

  • 2. 0 0
    Remove Syria? Not by appeasement!!!
    • Realist
    • 08.02.10
    • 05:22

    It was Barak's appeasement-minded comments that encouraged the Syrians to begin their war of words against Israel. The Israeli Foreign Minister's warning to Assad about the inevitable consequences of choosing war was not able to change the entire direction of Syrian policy but it is noticeable that the Syrians have stopped threatening to attack Israeli cities and instead begun complaining about Israeli self defence, which dictators call "aggression". The first condition for persuading Syria to change its behavior is for the Israeli Defence Minister to give 100% of his attention to defence and leave the Foreign Minister to do his job of stating Israeli foreign policy. National security is too serious an issue for political games.

  • 1. 0 0