“The geo-political dimensions of Syrian policy and developments in Syria make it a fundamentally and explicitly Israeli issue. Syria is well within Israel’s immediate sphere of interests and influence – and this explains and validates whatever military policies Israel chooses to employ, whether dangerous or risk-free. President Obama resoundingly endorsed Israel’s basic position on this.

It is in this context that Israel’s recent military strikes and implicit threats should be analyzed, rather than in the broader context of U.S.-Israeli relations or, as some stretched their assessments, in respect to Iran policy. These are peripheral aspects of the Syria problem, despite the media hoopla around them.

Mass killings, indiscriminate bombings of civilian neighborhoods and the possible use of chemical weapons are all issues that concern, or rather should concern, the international community. It is almost amusing, if tragic, to watch the world idly accept and tolerate the killing of 75,000 Syrian citizens yet enter a frenzy of opinion and judgment once there are signs of a minimal use of sarin gas or when Israel strikes arms shipments destined for Hezbollah.”

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