During a visit to the disputed Golan Heights on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, in particular, that he does not exclude a thaw in ties between Tel Aviv and Damascus.
"I reckon we are a long way from that, but we are not ruling out anything," Lieberman said when asked whether the two countries will be able to establish "some kind of relationship."
At the same time, he pledged to respond harshly to any attempts by the Syrian military to enter the demilitarized area in the Golan Heights.
"For our part, we will sanctify the 1974 disengagement agreement and there too we will insist that every last letter be abided by, and any violation will meet a harsh response from the State of Israel," Lieberman pointed out.
He also warned against "the Iranian presence in Syria", vowing that the Israeli military would retaliate "with force" against any terrorist infrastructure that it identifies in the region.
"We're warning those organizations associated with Iranian militias that try to establish a terror network in the Golan Heights. It's unacceptable, and we will act against any terror network in the area," Lieberman underlined.
Comment: Is that right? Funny, because terror networks have been in the area for years and Israel has done nothing to "act against" them. Instead, they have given them weapons and ammunition, free passage into Israel for medical treatment, and air support. Take your BS and try to sell it elsewhere, Lieberman.
His remarks came a few days after an Israeli military aircraft targeted Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights when a rogue shell fell between Israeli-controlled and Syrian government-held territories. According to a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces, the shell was launched during fighting between Syrian government forces and militant groups in the area.
In separate development on July 8, Syrian air defense forces repulsed a missile strike that targeted the Tiyas military air base, which is reportedly used by Iranian forces.
According to the media, missiles at the base in Homs were launched from Israel. However, the Israeli defense minister said that he was unaware of the attack and "only read about it in a newspaper."
Tel Aviv claims the right to open fire on any military target on Syrian territory which it considers to be violating the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria.
Comment: Israel "considers" anything they don't like to be a violation. I.e., they act with impunity and presume to create the rules.
In April 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially admitted for the first time that the regime's military had conducted strikes on Syrian territory.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it is vital to maintain control over the Golan, citing the threat emanating from Iran and Syria.
Comment: More BS. They are illegally occupying the land, they know it, the world knows it, and they only say nonsense like the above because they need a semi-rational justification for keeping what they stole.
Damascus, in turn, claims that Israel and its allies are supporting the terrorist groups fighting in Syria by conducting strikes on Syrian soil and setting up hospitals for militants evacuated from the theater of war. In addition, the Syrian Army has repeatedly seized large amounts of Israeli-made weapons and military equipment from the terrorists.
The Golan Heights were seized and then occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War, in what was recognized neither by the international community nor the UN Security Council.
Israel and Syria still remain officially at war as a result of this conflict and the lack of formal bilateral diplomatic relations.
And how long can Israel feel safe with Trumpy at the helm of the endgame here stateside? Thinking you are getting everything you want isn't always getting it... even though it feels good at first... it's all fake.... but this BS show can last for a very long time as long as everyone agrees to play along.... so why is Israel begging for it to end? Don't they realize what they are begging for? Ties with Assad? Isn't that what Erdo the Idiot says as well? Well the House of Saud soon be saying the same? And they think this shift in positions comes at no cost to them?
Isn't that more than foolish?