|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=17907
Aleppo: Reflection of World Politics
(Israel Hayom) Prof. Eyal Zisser - Syrian President Assad's victory in the battle for Aleppo is a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizbullah. All three joined to form an unholy alliance, which assured Moscow a triumphant return to the Middle East stage, and Iran the status of regional power with considerable influence. Moscow and Tehran are in fundamental disagreement over the long-term future - who will rule over Syria and who will dictate Assad's steps. For now, however, and certainly in the coming years, their partnership of mutual interests will prevail and even grow. Aleppo's fate is clear proof that the international community does not exist, and apparently never did, certainly not as far as the civilian population is concerned when it is targeted by a dictatorial regime and its powerful allies. Aside from several limp condemnations or expressions of grief from leaders in Europe and the U.S., the world is silent. For Israel, the lessons to be learned from the fighting in Syria are clear: It must never pin its hopes and stake its future on help from the international community. The world supports the strong and the victorious. Therefore, it would behoove Israel to strengthen itself in earnest, as a necessary guarantee of its ongoing existence and growth in our region. The writer, Vice Rector at Tel Aviv University, is former director of its Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies.