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Israel's Syria Dilemma: Your Neighbor's House Is on Fire, But He Hates You

(Los Angeles Times) Joshua Mitnick - Last week's sarin gas attack has intensified a long running debate in Israel about whether the government should be doing more to alleviate humanitarian suffering just beyond its northern border, despite a state of war that exists with Syria. "As Israelis and Jews, the use of gas takes us back [in time]," said Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz. "Our obligation as Jews and Israelis is to offer aid to the victims of the gas attack." The dominant approach reflects a realpolitik recognition that Israel shouldn't take sides in the civil war because it has little ability to shape a new Syria and is viewed as a pariah by most of the Arab world. At the same time, Israel has treated thousands of Syrians in its hospitals, and sends food, clothes and blankets to pro-rebel villages along the border. "Israel has been very clear that it doesn't want to enter the mix in Syria, but it will safeguard its vital interests," said Dore Gold, a former director general of the Israel Foreign Ministry under Netanyahu. Intervention "might create a more difficult situation. Israel has been very careful and responsible about what it does."
2017-04-14 00:00:00
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