“Let's leave aside the unbelievable arrogance and insolence of trampling the sovereignty of another country without any pretext while mocking international law. The damage to Israel resulting from seizing this territory is certain to come. These territorial swipes will be the pretext for another war. Just like the Shebaa Farms on the Golan Heights, Israel's questionable conquests are never temporary. Nothing is more everlasting.
They end up as a sore that never heals.”
—Gideon Levy; Israeli Journalist, Haaretz ________________________________
Excerpts: Israel's air force is bombing and destroying the Syrian army, with Israel's land army seizing chunks of its territory. Like water seeking the lowest place, Israel has found another opportunity in the multitude of options appearing on its path lately, destroying Syria's army and taking territory as this beaten and bruised country awakens from the nightmare of the previous regime, facing an unknown future. …
New hope is now breaking through in Syria. It may be false hope, most likely it is, but the first days of the regime now taking shape give some basis to this hope. The rebel leader seems judicious and wise, so far. In contrast to the coup in Iraq, the coup in Syria does not include destruction of the old order; there is no wholesale bloodshed and destruction of infrastructure. Abu Mohammed al-Golani is for now doing everything to stabilize the situation and build a framework for ruling. Israel is for now the last of his worries. His past doesn't bode well, but he may have changed. The Syrian people deserve that. …
Instead of threatening Syria, nothing would have been lost if it had called for the opening of a new chapter. Cynics will say that this is madness, but the real madness lies in not even trying, precisely at this time. The Syrian people will not forget who exploited its weakness and destroyed its country. In a demonstration supporting the coup in the Israeli Druze town of Majdal Shams on the Golan Heights this week, one of the residents told me: "If Syria's fate were left only in the hands of its people, hope would stand a chance. But Israel is already intervening and stirring the pot, leaving the Syrian army with only Kalashnikov rifles and bullets." …