Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who for months has said Israel will not tolerate an Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria, prioritized matters on Thursday, saying the most important immediate objectives are to remove Iran’s long-range missiles from Syria, and to distance Iranian forces from Israel’s border.
Netanyahu, in a briefing with reporters before heading back to Israel, said that diplomatic pressure is mounting regarding the missiles, with Israel arguing to those saying Iran is needed to fight ISIS in Syria, that if that is the case, why do they need long-range missiles that can reach Beersheba?
Netanyahu, in a briefing with reporters before heading back to Israel, said that diplomatic pressure is mounting regarding the missiles, with Israel arguing to those saying Iran is needed to fight ISIS in Syria, that if that is the case, why do they need long-range missiles that can reach Beersheba?
This issue came up in Netanyahu’s meeting on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We did not have a problem with the Assad regime for 40 years,” Netanyahu said. “Not one bullet was fired on the Golan Heights. What bothered us in the beginning was Islamic State [near Israel’s border], and afterward Iran and Hezbollah were brought there. We will not accept Iran on our border, or anywhere else in Syria. But our emphasis is on two things: getting rid of the missiles and the proximity of Iranian troops to the border.”
Netanyahu said that the Russians have succeeded in distancing Iranian and Hezbollah forces dozens of kilometers from the border, and that there has only been some isolated cases of Iranian or Shia militias coming back to the border disguised as Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.
Netanyahu said that Israel’s position is that it will not tolerate forces on the Golan that will “hurt us.”
To that end, Netanyahu made clear that Israel has certain redlines.
“We did not have a problem with the Assad regime for 40 years,” Netanyahu said. “Not one bullet was fired on the Golan Heights. What bothered us in the beginning was Islamic State [near Israel’s border], and afterward Iran and Hezbollah were brought there. We will not accept Iran on our border, or anywhere else in Syria. But our emphasis is on two things: getting rid of the missiles and the proximity of Iranian troops to the border.”
Netanyahu said that the Russians have succeeded in distancing Iranian and Hezbollah forces dozens of kilometers from the border, and that there has only been some isolated cases of Iranian or Shia militias coming back to the border disguised as Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.
Netanyahu said that Israel’s position is that it will not tolerate forces on the Golan that will “hurt us.”
To that end, Netanyahu made clear that Israel has certain redlines.
Firstly, the 1974 Separation Agreement that followed the Yom Kippur War in 1973 must be vigorously enforced.
Secondly, if forces such as Islamic State or others try to get to the border, Israel will attack them. Israel, Netanyahu said, has acted against ISIS “all over the world.”
Thirdly, Netanyahu said that Israel will not tolerate any “spillover” from the fighting near its border – either intentional or unintentional – and will act aggressively when it happens, as seen by the downing of the Syrian reconnaissance drone on Wednesday.
Secondly, if forces such as Islamic State or others try to get to the border, Israel will attack them. Israel, Netanyahu said, has acted against ISIS “all over the world.”
Thirdly, Netanyahu said that Israel will not tolerate any “spillover” from the fighting near its border – either intentional or unintentional – and will act aggressively when it happens, as seen by the downing of the Syrian reconnaissance drone on Wednesday.
Egypt has invited senior Hamas officials to Cairo for talks on the continued tensions along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and ways of ending the dispute between the Islamist movement and the ruling Fatah faction in the West Bank.
On the eve of the visit, Hamas leaders said they were not prepared to “pay any political price” in return for economic and humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip.
On the eve of the visit, Hamas leaders said they were not prepared to “pay any political price” in return for economic and humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip.
The visit comes amid increased tensions between Fatah and Hamas, with representatives of the rival parties holding each other responsible for thwarting efforts to achieve “national reconciliation.”
On Tuesday, Hamas said that some of its supporters were beaten by Fatah activists at An-Najah University in Nablus. Hamas also accused the PA security forces of continuing its campaign of arrests and harassment against its supporters and members in the West Bank.
On Tuesday, Hamas said that some of its supporters were beaten by Fatah activists at An-Najah University in Nablus. Hamas also accused the PA security forces of continuing its campaign of arrests and harassment against its supporters and members in the West Bank.
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said the discussions in Cairo are focusing on bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Palestinian and Arab arenas.
He reiterated Hamas’s keenness to end the dispute with Fatah, saying the best way to achieve this was by lifting the sanctions that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas imposed on the Gaza Strip about one year ago.
He reiterated Hamas’s keenness to end the dispute with Fatah, saying the best way to achieve this was by lifting the sanctions that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas imposed on the Gaza Strip about one year ago.
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