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Inside the Putin-Netanyahu-Trump Deal on Syria
(Washington Post) Josh Rogin - President Trump now endorses a deal on Syria that Russian President Putin struck in Moscow on July 11 with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Based on conversations with several government and diplomatic sources, under the deal, Russia agrees to keep Iranian troops and proxy groups 80 km., or about 50 miles, from Israel's border (if they can), and Putin promises not to object if Israel strikes Iranian assets in southern Syria, especially if Iran deploys weapons that threaten Israel, such as strategic missiles or anti-aircraft systems. Of course, there's broad skepticism about Russia's ability to force Iran to do anything in Syria. But overall, it's a deal that Israel can live with and that establishes a framework for Israeli relations with its powerful new neighbor - Russia. You can't blame the Israelis for being realistic about the fact that Russia, not the U.S., is the power they have to work with most in the Middle East now.