Israel continues to monitor the latest developments in Syria with concern, as the reality on the ground provides Jerusalem’s arch enemies, including Iran and Hezbollah, with the ability to entrench themselves militarily in the war-torn-country.
In an exclusive interview Israel’s Minister of Intelligence and Transportation Yisrael Katz gave to TV7, the Israeli top intelligence official noted that Jerusalem will have no other choice but to assure its security interests are preserved on its own, considering the fact that the alliance between Russia and Iran, when it comes to Syria, is more significant to Moscow that Israel’s national security interests. Minister Katz also took the opportunity to signal to Russia that Iran and Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Syria would cause for more regional instability that would directly project on Syria’s stability – a strategic interest of Moscow. The Israeli Intelligence minister said, “Russia needs to understand that a dominant Iran in Syria, which includes Hezbollah, means regional instability – which projects on Syria that is not its (Moscow’s) interest. And this is exactly the course of action that we are maneuvering in, between our military capabilities, our efforts to convince and diplomacy. To a certain extent, on specific points, the alliance between Russia and Iran is an alliance that is more significant (to Moscow) than our ability to influence the Russians,” Katz asserted.
The complete interview with Israel’s Minister of Intelligence and transportation will be aired as part of our Jerusalem Studio exclusive, next week on Friday, December first.