Israel Matzav

Assad looks to start a war with Israel

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be really desperate for a distraction. According to Syria's al-Watan Assad has said that 'Palestinian' factions may attack Israel from the Golan Heights. It sounds like Assad is looking for a war. But if he wants a war with Israel, there are other ways to get it....

According to the report, the initiative was due to be discussed in upcoming meetings between Syria and Palestinian faction leaders, said Khalid Abd al-Majid, secretary- general of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front.

In light of recent developments, Syria had the "right and duty to respond using all available means," Majid was reported as saying.

Syria's pro-government Al-Ikhbariya television gave an indication of what Assad might be considering, quoting unnamed sources who said that Syrian rockets were ready to strike targets inside Israel in the event of any new attack.

It also said Syria had given the green light to Palestinian factions to carry out operations against Israel from across the Golan Heights.

However, neither of those warnings have been spelled out publicly by Syrian officials, and any direct Syrian rocket fire on Israel would be likely to provoke an overwhelming Israeli response.

Perhaps ironically, the step that Assad could take in the Golan that might most alarm Israel would be to retreat from it.

...

"I would not be surprised if the Assad regime begins the process of pulling out its forces from the Golan to Damascus," Fawaz Gerges, director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics..."The (rebel) Nusra Front and other groups are preparing themselves for the ultimate war against Israel...so this would create a strategic predicament for Israel."

 What could go wrong?

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Golan Heights, Nusra Front, Palestinians, Syria, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:00 PM