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Syrian Ceasefire Makes Israel Nervous
(Politico) David Makovsky - Senior Israeli officials are concerned about the enforcement of the recent U.S. cease-fire deal in southern Syria with Russia and Jordan. Israeli officials view Assad as a butcher who murders and gasses his own people with virtual impunity. Yet, they believe he is unlikely to be dislodged in western Syria. In eastern and southern Syria, Israeli strategic thinkers see a growing Iranian threat that requires a much more robust response. For Israel, it's noteworthy that Jordan was a party to the deal. However, Israeli security experts are skeptical that the cease-fire will hold - they have seen too many similar agreements fall apart in Syria. They are also concerned that the post-Raqqa world could create a vacuum that would be filled by Iran. The writer, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, served as senior adviser to the State Department's special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in 2013 and 2014.