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Israel and the Civil War in Syria
(Atlantic Council) Moran Stern - Israel's policy on the civil war in Syria has been to remain neutral. In the short term, having the conflicting parties in Syria fighting each other reduces their likelihood of threatening Israel. In the long term, a growing consensus in the Israeli security establishment is that the main strategic threat to Israel is a victorious Assad, who enjoys the active backing of Iran and Hizbullah. Accordingly, the emergence of a Syrian regime that will be part of a radical Shia-axis, stretching from Tehran to south Lebanon, is Israel's least favorable outcome. The writer teaches courses on Israel and the Middle East at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.