Suppose you are Prime Minister of a country surrounded by enemies. One of those enemies – who wreaked more killing and destruction on his own people than on yours – has fallen. But the factions taking over are loudly proclaiming that Jerusalem is next. What do you do?
Here’s what Israel did, via Daryna Vialko’s article at msn.com:
On December 10, Israeli Navy missile ships destroyed Syria’s military fleet as part of a large-scale operation aimed at eliminating strategic threats to the country, stated Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to The Times of Israel.
Katz, during a visit to the naval base in Haifa, said that Israeli warships destroyed the Syrian military fleet during a nighttime operation, which is part of a broader campaign to eliminate strategic threats to Israel.
He also stated that Israeli forces are consolidating their position in the buffer zone between Syria and the Golan Heights.
Additionally, the Israeli Minister noted that he had ordered the creation of a “sterile defensive zone” in southern Syria to prevent terrorist threats while avoiding a constant Israeli presence in the region.
Israeli officials assert that their actions are defensive and aimed at ensuring the country’s security.
Specifically, Israeli forces occupied abandoned Syrian military facilities to prevent their use by terrorists or other groups against Israel.
Israel is – and has, for decades been – an oasis of western civilization in a region characterized by hatred, intolerance, violence and death. It has survived against all odds, surrounded by forces intent on its annihilation.
Syria, only because bashar al-assad found it more beneficial to kill his own people than Israelis, has largely left Israel alone. Now that has changed. So Israel has made it as hard as possible for the “we’re coming for Jerusalem” crowd now in charge, to make good on their threats.
I think the operative term here is self-preservation. May it continue indefinitely.
