Israel Matzav

Netanyahu says Israel will stop Syrian weapons from falling into the 'wrong hands'

In London for Margaret Thatcher's funeral, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the BBC that Israel would prevent Syrian chemical weapons and anti-aircraft missiles from falling into the 'wrong hands.' (Video of interview here).

"The main arms of concern to us are the arms that are already in Syria - these are anti-aircraft weapons, these are chemical weapons and other very, very dangerous weapons that could be game changers," he said in an interview with the BBC.

Netanyahu warned these weapons could change the balance of power in the Middle East, and stressed that it is not just in Israel's interest to stop these weapons from getting into the wrong hands, but it's in other countries' interest as well.

Despite this, Netanyahu echoed past statements that Israel doesn't seek to interfere in the Syrian civil war. "We are prepared to defend ourselves if the need arises and I think people know that what I say is both measured and serious," he said.

But I have to wonder where Reuters got this:

Israel believes that around one in 10 of the rebels are Sunni Muslim radicals, officials told Reuters.

That's the first time I've heard that. 

Labels: al-Qaeda, anti-aircraft missiles, Binyamin Netanyahu, chemical weapons, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:49 PM