Israel warns it will 'act' on Syrian arms fears
Israel will "have to act" if the Syrian regime collapses and there is a risk Syria's chemical weapons and missiles could fall into the hands of militant groups, the Jewish state's prime minister warned.
The deteriorating situation of President Bashar Assad's regime is stoking Israeli fears that militants affiliated with Lebanon's Hezbollah group or the al Qaida terror network could raid Syrian military arsenals for chemicals weapons or missiles that could strike Israel.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had not considered specifically trying to cross the border to seize the weapons. "There are other possibilities," he said in an interview on Fox News.
Over the weekend, defence minister Ehud Barak said Israel would be prepared to attack Syrian weapons arsenals should the need arise.
Mr Netanyahu said preventing Syria's weapons from falling into the wrong hands was key to Israeli security.
"Could you imagine Hezbollah, the people who are conducting with Iran all these terror attacks around the world - could you imagine them having chemical weapons? It would be like al Qaida having chemical weapons," he said.
"It's something that is not acceptable to us, not acceptable to the United States and to any peaceable country in the world.
"So I think that this is something we'll have to act to stop if the need arises. And the need might arise if there's a regime collapse, but not a regime change."
When asked whether Israel was prepared to act alone, Mr Netanyahu said Syria's stockpile was a "common concern" and that "we'd have to see if there was a common action to address that concern".
Mr Netanyahu said he believed the fall of the regime was inevitable, but that it could take days, weeks or months.
Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli Defence Ministry official, told Israel's Army Radio yesterday that "right now, they (the Syrian regime) are maintaining control of these arsenals as best they can".
Mr Barak made it clear that Israel was preparing for the worst.
"I've ordered the Israeli military to prepare for a situation where we would have to weigh the possibility of carrying out an attack" against Syrian weapons arsenals, he said.
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Lino Apap
Jul 24th 2012, 18:59
Glad to see a majority of comments in favour of Israel for a change because it has recently become quite fashionable to knock the Israeli State. Of course there will always be people like Messrs. Said & Cassar who will be biased against Israel. What is a threat to world peace is not Israel but countries like Iran with their constant support of terrorism. When Israel found someone from the Arab side who truly wanted peace, like Anwar Sadat, the Israelis made peace with them and gave conquered land back! However, you cannot expect Israel to simply surrender territory without first ensuring that national security is not compromised. And what happened to Anwar Sadat when he made peace with Israel? The Arab terrorist groups and those Arab countries who supported them had him killed! So who is really a threat to world peace Messrs Said & Cassar?
Silvan Said
Jul 26th 2012, 14:59
Lino, first, I am not anti Israel or anti anyone for that matter.
But with respect how can you only believe that rhetoric constantly dished out by your favourite TV news channels?
If threatening a direct strike against Iran knowing full well it will draw America, China and Russia in the cauldron is not threatening world peace, what is?
Martin Cassar
Jul 26th 2012, 19:40
@ Lino Apap
A country without borders is a no country but occupying forces. A country claims its very existence on 3000 years old Biblical text to ILLEGALLY OCCUPY others lands has no room in the civilized world. Creating the condition for terrorism this is exactly what Israel has been doing for six decades. In my opinion, both the Zionists along with their god should be arrested and taken in front of an international court and face trial for war crimes and holding seeds of terrorism.
We should always remember the Zionists hate love and love to deny and hide the truth and kill the peace, they have done that over 2000 years ago and still doing, so says the Bible!
Patricia Neto
Jul 23rd 2012, 16:25
I have many times disagreed with Israel's actions, especially its treatment of the Palestinians. However, I cannot but respect this country which is not afraid of acting on its own to protect its people and land. It is evident to me that extremists, most probably the terror group Al Queda itself are manipulating the naive Syrian public in their fight against the Assad regime. Israel has a right to prevent these terrorists from getting their hands on the chemical weapons because it they do, Israel itself would be their first target. Maybe if the UN were not such whimps and so afraid of Russia and China and did what should have been done in the first place, thousands of Syrians might still have their homes and be alive today.
Silvan Said
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:56
When is this small country that has its own brand of extremism going to stop threatening world peace? Did the unfortunate events of WWII earn it the right to fly a tantrum with Big Brother protecting whenever it feels like?
Come on, grow up and behave.
And please, Mrs Clinton, don't give your UN speeches and condemn Russia and China when you back Israel's intransigence to making peace. Seriously, some politicians think that the rest of the world believes what they say and not what they do!
Anthony Charles Abela
Jul 23rd 2012, 14:47
Said, this small country's form of extremism as you called it, goes to prove one thing, lack of maturity from your part. How dare you insult Israel like this, was it them that attacked five countries when they got their Independence or where they attacked by FIVE NATIONS?. How many times did Egypt attack Israel?. In the last war when Egypt attacked Israel, the Israeli Army Tank corp was just 6 miles away from Cairo and were ordered to pull back. And another thing, when the Israelis routed 150,000 Egyptian army personnel in Sinai, they let them go, would the Arab nations have done that?, or would they have massacred them, I think you know the answer. When the Russian Air Force pilots dressed as Syrian air pilots attacked Israel, the Israelis shot down five of them within no time and the rest of the Russian pilots high tailed it back to Syria. Don't let the devil use you because they are God's chosen people.The way you show your inconsideration makes one think you are not only an Arab sympathiser but perhaps you have their blood in your veins too. What is it with the Maltese?, this vehement hatred for them. What have they ever done to Malta?. The World owes this nation so much especially in the field of medical achievements. They have won over 200 Nobel Prizes where as the Arabs combined, 27.
Anthony C. Abela Melb. Aust.
John Joseph Cefai
Jul 23rd 2012, 15:33
"Threatening world peace"? Israel? Since when, and how? Is it exporting terrorism against innocents? Do Israelis not have the right to protect their existence and that of their nation and its borders (which has been given to them by UN Charter)?
As far as I know, China, and unfortunately Russia, have always been on the wrong side of history since the end of WW2. They have always, and still do, support dictatorial regimes in defiance of peoples who want freedom.
Martin Cassar
Jul 23rd 2012, 20:48
Is Israel occupying others lands? If your answer is yes then you must admit that Israel is a threat to world peace and stability, and if your answer is no that means you are living on your own on planet Zog!
Please choose the reason of your report below: