Opinion
Syrian nightmare for Israel
Alex Fishman
Published: 26.07.12, 18:31
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58 Talkbacks for this article
1. first and foremost
RM ,   Amsterdam NL   (07.26.12)
this is a horrible tragedy for the Syrians. I don't like how Israel thinks and reacts as if everything is about Israel.
2. the rebels are terrorists affiliated with al-qaeda
jack bauer   (07.26.12)
nobody is reporting truthfully in the worldwide media. The brotherhood/al=qaeda are the enemies of all freedom loving people worldwide
3. #1 thats because this is an Israeli site... duh
jack bauer   (07.26.12)
and the story is about the potential threat to us.... dont like it? find info someplace else..... I noticed there was no mention of the new teams the rebels have to find and capture chemical weapons for the terrorists.... that is the real nightmare
4. #1 - how else should Israel react?
Ben ,   Chutzlaaretz   (07.26.12)
Israeli reaction is from an Israeli view point. What other view point would you like? Yes, what is happening to Syrian civilians is horrible. And one would very much expect syrian reaction to be from a Syrian view point and Turkish from a Turkish view point etc... Israel has done exactly what it needed to do. It offered humantarian aid and sat out the military cycle while monitoring the consequences with an eye towards safety. That is what any rational nation does.
5. To # 1
(07.26.12)
The tragedy in Syria is terrible,and it shows the evil that exists between the arabs themselves, But, take in consideration that, Syria has always been an enemy to Israel, and of course Israel is worried what will happen to her next. Syria always seeked the destruction of Israel, and would not shed a tear if this was war , was instead happening to the Jewish state. most likely they will intervene to accelerate its destruction.
6. Come again?
Amichai ,   Huntsville, US   (07.26.12)
"..may find Israel surrounded by radical Muslim elements". Ha! That's been the case for how many centuries now?
7. " Post-Assad Syria........"
Joshua ,   USA   (07.26.12)
" Post-Assad Syria may find Israel surrounded by radical Muslim elements" - REALLY? And what was/is Israel surrounded by since its inception? - Cuddly, Friendly Arabs?
8. to #1: why don't you stick to local news
epn ,   Miami   (07.26.12)
This is not about what Israel feels or not. It's an article about assessments made by the CIA. If you do not care about Israel what are you doing on ynetnews??? As for Syrians it is a tragedy they brought upon themselves and there's not much we can do about it Arabs are leaving the fascist 1930's and moving back to the middle age. It's their own choice!
9. Aren't you glad Israel didn't listen to nut bar leftists?
Chaim ,   Israel   (07.26.12)
Thankfully, this time Israel didn't listen to nut bar leftists, who wanted us to cede the Golan. Arent you all glad? Imagine how strong and secure Israel would be had we NEVER listened to nut bar leftists and kept all our liberated lands?
10. #1, Israel MUST care about itself
Susan ,   Israel   (07.26.12)
Of course Israel should care about itself. The fact that this seems to offend you and the other nations of the world is disturbing . Furthermore, how easy for you to type away at a computer in the Netherlands and claim that Israel should not care about its neighbor turning into a fundamentalist Islamic state. If the same thing happened to Belgium and Germany, wouldn't you be concerned first and foremost about your Holland? Especially if you were in a state of war with these countries?
11. Learn to read!
Klod Zakk ,   NY NY   (07.26.12)
This article does not negate the tragedy that befell the people of Syria. It just states that Islamist Radicals are infiltrating the ranks of the rebels. There is a good chance that the next regime maybe an Islamo Fascist one....Look what happened in Egypt and Libya. They replace one piece of strunde for another. All will be more hostile towards Israel and Jews. Doodelijke?
12. #1 RM
moshe ,   Tivon, Israel   (07.26.12)
#1 RM " You don't like how Israel thinks ..." Perhaps if your family, your mother, you were physically threatened by Uran, Siria, their stooges hizballah in Lebabnon , hamas tin Gaza; Perhaps if Amsterdam was bombarded every week for years by UNaimed, UNguided missiles, from hamas ; as sderot, Israel ... perhaps then you would T H I N K ... ( I assume you have normal intelligence.) moshe
13. RM # 1
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (07.26.12)
If you were surrounded by millions of people that all wanted you dead or pushed into the sea you would react as if everything was about you too. It's so easy to point your finger and critizise others when you don't have to share their problems.
14. #1 Netherlands
Louis Fried ,   Canada   (07.26.12)
And very myopic post my Dutch friend. Syria neighbour's Israel so Israel is justifiably concerned about events in that country especially the fate of chemical weapons. Wouldn't the Netherlands be concerned if a radical Islamist government came to powering Belgium?
15. TO #1
ron ,   new york, new york   (07.26.12)
Well hello #! !! Israel is right next to Syria if you bother to look at a map. Israelis will have to live with and react when needed to changing realities. Read the article!!! Jordan and Turkey are also concerned and for good reason. Is it all about them too? Or are you all about seeing Israel at fault all the time?
16. 1
(07.26.12)
israel is surrounded by animals, fanatic killers. this is why israel is worried. has nothing to do with the syrian, unfortunate victims of violence in syria.
17. Naeh:our brightest wanted to return Golan for piece of paper
tom ,   tel aviv   (07.26.12)
so no way there is danger coming that way! Proof: tens of thousands of stupid Israelis would vote tomorrow for the same imbeciles that saw peace with Syria just around the corner... Now as we say here: "go'n build a medina" Oy-Vey, People of the Book! (maybe: a cooking book)
18. @1 RM
Jean-Pierre ,   Austria   (07.26.12)
really... are you also that naive? you never lived in the Arabian world..so you have no idea what it is like over there...so becareful how you judge.
19. #1 The difference is,
(07.26.12)
whether your neighbours are Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, or Belgium, Germany and the North Sea.
20. Of course number 1
Sobieski ,   Germany   (07.26.12)
Actually you read an israeli newspaper, this treats israeli issues just as dutch newspapers treat things out of a dutch perspective
21. whats on Israels borders,,,
alsky ,   toronto   (07.26.12)
should very nuch be of great concern to Israel. and all those who value life What i dont like about Holland, is your anti-Israel media.
22. So Israel is getting new neighbors ...
spyguy ,   seattle usa   (07.26.12)
Israelis should have seen this coming. It has long been known that the "Arab street" was much more radical than the existing US/UK puppet governments and that it was very likely that those puppet governments would eventually be replaced by governments more in line with the general public. Anyone that thought that the new governments would be more "friendly" to the west was just flat out delusional. Now the inevitable is happening, country by country, so the important question, that no one in Israel seems to think about, is what can Israel do? It is completely impossible for Israel to maintain a power differential because everyone in the world has access to similar weapons and Israel just can not afford the high costs of trying to stay ahead - eventually it will bankrupt Israel. So to avoid eventual total defeat, what should Israel do to survive? Note that anything it tries will have very severe trade-offs. When will Israelis discuss this?
23. multiple Arab national states are not compatible with
Yael Schlichting ,   Rosenheim (Germany)   (07.26.12)
multiple Arab national states are not compatible with the tribal social order! Syria is an artificial state and so far, it has survived. But the social order of these peoples is not compatible with a top down hierarchical national state. The Arab states, as mandated by the 1923 Lausanne conference have to fail. The Arabs need something else. Their tribal structure as well as Islam do not really fit together with an autocracy! After Assad may have been gone one day, I fear Syria will fall into an even greater chaos, than we had with Lebanon during its civil war and even worse: What Syria was in Lebanon, might be Iran in Syria.
24. Why do people react to #1?
Beauchard ,   Amsterdam, Nederland   (07.26.12)
It is just another anti-Israel troll. He/she/it posts the same type of comment on a lot of articles on this site. It may even be part of a therapy.
25. 1@ ask geert de wilders about what he thinks
dovdevan ,   ashdod,paris   (07.26.12)
of radical islam? what would be your reaction if france,belgium or luxembourg fall into radical islamist ?you would think about your country first and the future of your country !!! don't think what i am saying is a joke because many people like de wilders think that radical islam is a danger for all europe !!
26. Israel has been surrounded by radical elements since 1948!
michael redbourn ,   arad israel   (07.26.12)
The great things now is that all of those radical elements are fighting civil wars. And the Sunnis are at the Shiites throats and vice versa. What could be better for Israel?
27. #22 - nothing has changed from Israel's perspective
michael redbourn ,   arad israel   (07.26.12)
Since 1948 every Arab state wanted to destroy Israel and they do now. This is not about land but about religion and nothing changed.
28. #22 - a LOT has changed since 1948 - NONE of it good
spyguy ,   seattle usa   (07.26.12)
for Israel. You appear to fall into the same prideful, delusional trap so many Israelis seem to fall into. The global power structure has changed, a lot, with the US no longer in control and is unable to protect Israel. The global weapons situation has changed a lot, with every nation having access to similar weapons capability. For example, thousands of cheap, reasonably accurate missiles trump fighter/bomber aircraft which have now lost most of their value. Blaming land, religion or whatever for the animosity does NOT change the situation in which Israel is more and more at a major disadvantage, so what should be done? It is very likely that more belligerence from Israel will NOT make the situation better or even sustainable, so what should be done? Pretending that the situation is not getting worse will NOT make things better.
29. To: No. 22
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (07.26.12)
I think you are overlooking several very important facts: 1. The last thing on any Arab country's mind right now is engaging in a war with Israel. For starters, it won't go terribly well for them, and Israel will end up with expanded borders. That's a given. 2. Moreover, you are completely ignoring the fact that what has replaced previous Arab governments are not regimes with a unified purpose. There is much internal dissension, there are serious economic and domestic issues -- don't look to the West to bail these countries out; the West isn't doing so well, either. 3. The new leaders are expected to produce reforms; all indications are that the people are not interested in measured steps. They want results now, and if they don't get immediate results, they'll simply go back into the streets (because it worked so well the first time) in renewed protests, which will throw these countries into further disarray and internal turmoil. 4. Don't underestimate Israel's military might, and Israel's willingness to do what it takes the secure its borders and protect its citizens. As to the question of degree and method, it would depend upon the seriousness of the threat. Don't look for a measured campaign, such as Lebanon 2006 or Cast Lead. Collateral damage will be the last thing on Israel's mind if it feels it must act quickly. 5. You have no clue as to the content of Israel's arsenal, so you are not in a position to address the issue of Israel's qualitative edge. It's enormous, by the way -- do you really think that the country that produced STUXNET, DUQU, TILDED, FLAME and AC/DC in less than a decade has ignored the development of more conventional weapons systems? The fact that Israeli-made weapons systems are in such high demand should tell you something. Also, please keep in mind that Israel does not make weapons systems available to any country unless those systems have become superfluous or been superseded. 6. Israel will do what it must to survive. Two thousand years of exile have taught the Jewish people a very painful, bitter and costly lesson. Don't look for us to go into exile again. Whatever the cost to others.
30. #22
Mark ,   Lodz, Poland   (07.26.12)
Firstly, Israel is not going to tell you what she's going to do. Secondly, a lot the wonderful IT gadgets and software that you enjoy today have filtered down to 'civvy street' from Israeli military R&D. Therefore all the money and brains that we're investing on remaining ahead doesn't phase us, spyguy. Thirdly, defeat is not an option for Israel. We can't afford to lose a war so I suggest you answer your own question.
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