IsraelSeen Daily Alert: Israel and the Middle East Feb 13 2018

by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

• Israel Targeted Iranians Manning Drone Control Center in Syria – Ronen Bergman
  On Saturday, soon after Israel shot down an Iranian drone that had entered Israeli airspace, Israeli jets blew up the drone’s command and control center at Tiyas air base in Syria, along with the Iranians manning the center.
  The Israeli bombardment had been dangerously close to Russian forces at the air base. While Israel maintains a limited tactical coordination channel with Russia in order to prevent clashes between Israeli and Russian forces in Syria, this hasn’t led Russia to understand Israel’s strategic needs. A senior Israeli military source told me the Russians “could have prevented the launch of the drone, but they didn’t do anything.”  (New York Times)
• UK Foreign Secretary: We Support Israel’s Right to Defend Itself
  After the Iranian drone incursion from Syria into Israel on Saturday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “We support Israel’s right to defend itself against any incursions into its territory. We are concerned at the Iranian actions, which detract from efforts to get a genuine peace process underway.”  (UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office)

• Trump: The Palestinians Are Not Looking to Make Peace – President Donald Trump interviewed by Boaz Bismuth
  In an interview published Sunday, President Donald Trump said:
  Q: What did you mean when you said that Jerusalem was off the table?
  Trump: “By taking Jerusalem off the table I wanted to make it clear that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and as for specific boundaries, I would support what both sides agreed to.”
  Q: Will Israel have to give something in return for the decision on Jerusalem?
  Trump: “I think both sides will have to make hard compromises to reach a peace agreement.”
  Q: When will the U.S. unveil its peace plan?
  Trump: “We are going to see what goes on. Right now, I would say the Palestinians are not looking to make peace, they are not looking to make peace. And I am not necessarily sure that Israel is looking to make peace. So we are just going to have to see what happens.”  (Israel Hayom)
• Israel: Hamas Funneling Terror Funds through Turkey – Amos Harel
  Kamil Tekeli, a Turkish law professor, and Dergham Jabareen, an Israeli Arab, were arrested by the Israel Security Agency in January over involvement in a Hamas effort to funnel money for terrorism to the West Bank and Gaza via Turkey. Tekeli was deported back to Turkey. Both were recruited by Zahar Jabareen, a Hamas operative who was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal. Jabareen is one of the heads of Hamas’ West Bank Command, whose purpose is to plan and fund acts of terror in the West Bank.
  Tekeli said that Jihad Yaghmour, a Hamas operative who was also released in the Shalit deal, serves as the liaison between the West Bank Command and the Turkish government, which hosts it. A senior defense official told Ha’aretz that the Turkish government has encouraged Hamas’ wide-ranging operations in Turkey. (Ha’aretz)
• Two IDF Soldiers Attacked by Palestinian Mob after Accidentally Entering West Bank City
  Two IDF soldiers, a man and a woman, were attacked by a Palestinian mob who encircled their military vehicle after they accidentally entered the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. Palestinian police helped rescue them. (Ynet News)
  See also Palestinians Lambast PA for Helping IDF Soldiers Escape Jenin Mob – Khaled Abu Toameh (Times of Israel)

• Continued Iranian Military Expansion in Syria Will Lead to Wider Conflict – Dennis Ross
  As someone who has long watched the Iranians sponsor proxy terror attacks against the Israelis and against American forces in Iraq, the surprise is not that the Iranians would try to hit Israel but that they would do it directly. That helps to explain the Israeli response which was designed to leave no doubt with the Iranians that they are playing with fire.
  It should also be a wake-up call for the international community and the U.S.  Acquiescing in the continuing expansion of the Iranian military presence and infrastructure in Syria will sooner or later produce a much wider conflict involving the Israelis and Iranians and the Shia militias – several of whose leaders have provocatively visited the Israeli border recently.
  It is the Russians who have abetted the spread of the Iranian military presence in Syria. The Iranians potentially put Russian forces in danger with their attempted attack against Israel. Now is the time for Putin to say that there will be no more Russian air cover for any Shia militia expansion from existing positions.
  The Trump administration has left the Israelis largely on their own. And, on their own, they have little choice but to use force to send blunt messages like they did Saturday. The writer, former special assistant to President Obama, is a Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. (New York Daily News)
• Israel Must Prepare for War on Its Northern Border – Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eyal Ben-Reuven
  Iran has brought into Syria thousands of Shi’ite militiamen whom they wish to turn into a fighting force against the State of Israel. In addition, they plan to install Iranian air and navy military forces alongside Hizbullah troops. Their plan is to surround the State of Israel with proxy forces, including Hamas in Gaza.
  Israel has made it absolutely clear that it will not allow Iran and its cohorts to control land that touches Israel’s border. However, diplomatic efforts with the Russians have not borne any fruit. I personally have met with Russian officials three times over the last 18 months as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The Russians nod their heads in agreement, saying they understand the problem, but they don’t plan on using any significant amount of force to put a stop to this. The writer, former deputy head of the IDF Northern Command, is a member of the opposition Zionist Union party. (Jerusalem Post)

• By striking Syrian antiaircraft forces and installations where Iranian personnel are located this weekend, Israel seems intent on forcing key players to recognize its deep interest in limiting Tehran’s military presence in Syria.
• Israeli leaders have repeatedly stated that their main concern is avoiding Iranian military “entrenchment” on their doorstep. Prime Minister Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly last September that Israel will not accept Tehran’s development of advanced missile production capabilities in Syria and Lebanon, and that it “will act to prevent Iran from establishing permanent military bases in Syria for its air, sea, and ground forces.”
• Israel wants Damascus to realize the price of allowing Iran to house military personnel at Syrian bases. While Assad is deeply indebted to the Iranians for helping to salvage his rule, if Israel continues exacting a serious cost because of Iranian involvement, Assad may feel compelled to request that they dial back their presence.
• Senior Israeli military officials have sent messages to Assad via third parties indicating that they do not oppose him extending his sovereignty in Syria, but that they will view the situation very differently if he does so with Iran, Hizbullah, and Shia militias in tow.
• For now, Russia’s alliance with Tehran still serves its regional interests, and the Kremlin’s objectives are far more aligned with Iran’s than with Israel’s. Moreover, the Islamic Republic has been a significant purchaser of Russian arms.
• Israel is determined not to let Iran develop the military capacity to change the equation on its northern borders. Israeli officials will no doubt maintain this posture even if they have to keep acting alone. This means that continued Iranian efforts to establish a military presence in Syria will likely be met with increased Israeli strikes.The writer is director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at The Washington Institute.