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Rewriting the Rules with Syria and Hizbullah

(Israel Hayom) Eyal Zisser - The foreign media has focused on Israel's determination to prevent the transfer of game-changing weapon systems from Syria to Hizbullah. Yet the alleged Israeli attack on multiple Syrian installations has more to do with rewriting the rules of the game that have governed Israel's interaction with Syria and Hizbullah over the past two decades. Until recently, Israel has opted to avoid preemptive attacks on weapons convoys lest such a move trigger a painful Syrian retaliation. Israel's new approach is not just a consequence of impending deliveries of advanced weapon systems; it was motivated by the new window of opportunity presented by the Syrian revolution. The Syrian civil war has increased Israel's freedom of operation to levels not seen in years. The Syrian military is now singularly focused on the survival of the Assad regime as it counters the rebels. Thus, its ability to retaliate in the face of an Israeli strike has been severely compromised. Furthermore, Israel hopes to disconnect Hizbullah from the Syrian oxygen tank that Hassan Nasrallah has relied on for so many years. Hizbullah is gradually becoming entangled in the Syrian quagmire, as is clearly evident by the almost daily funerals it holds for its fighters. It certainly does not want to open another front with Israel. Prof. Eyal Zisser, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Tel Aviv University, is former director of its Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies.
2013-05-07 00:00:00
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