Dr. Yossi Mansharof : I believe the main idea is to deter Iran from launching an attack against Israel in response to Israel’s recent and unprecedented strike on Iranian targets. For the first time in the history of the Iranian regime, it has been attacked at 20 different locations, including one nuclear facility and numerous military installations.

Israel’s primary goal now is to prevent Iran from carrying out its promised retaliatory attack. Iran has repeatedly vowed to launch an offensive, and Israel is doing its best to deter such actions. So far, we have seen significant successes on various fronts. In Gaza, Hamas is nearly eliminated. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has suffered a substantial blow, and the broader resistance appears weakened following yesterday’s attacks on Israel.

The interview took place in Al-Arabiya on December 24, 2024.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The territory guarantees strategic control over the whole southern Syrian arena, which generates an immediate threat to Israel. There is no higher vantage point than the Syrian part of the Golan.
Power in Syria is now de-centralized, with the country fragmented between several groups, most of them extreme Islamist, potentially posing a new array of threats to Israel.

Israel is not looking to apply sovereignty to the buffer zone, but rather to militarily control the area in order to prevent danger under conditions of instability.

This is an unprecedented event in which the Israeli army has the ability to completely destroy an enemy army without a war. This opportunity is being used wisely by Israel in order to ensure a better reality…

Published in The Media Line, December 21, 2024.

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Dr. Yossi Mansharof: Israeli operations in July and September failed to hit the Houthis hard enough to lower their motivation. Israel is realizing only now the importance of the Yemeni theater. It must cooperate with the incoming Trump administration to hit hard on the Houthis’ economy and its military assets.

Published in The Sun, December 19, 2024.

Ruth Wasserman Lande: Erdogan is a disciple of the Muslim Brotherhood. He is an Islamist radical in Turkey. He is behind Syria’s rebels that came from al Qaeda, from Daesh, from other very radical groups.

Turkey, with Erdogan at the helm, is supportive of Hamas and supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood, which are the same thing. And now the entire Syrian gang is going to be governed by rebels who also are supported by Turkey and support Hamas.

These are not disconnected arenas, and the United States needs to put a huge vigilant watch on Erdogan, particularly because he’s a member of NATO.

Published in New York Post,  December 16, 2024.

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Ruth Wasserman Lande: after Iran’s huge embarrassment, there is an issue of national pride. Following the fall of Assad and the severe damage Israel has done to Hamas and Hezbollah, the Islamic Republic is likely even more keen and eager to make an impact in Jordan and the West Bank, which it would access in part via Jordan.

The leakage of the instability from Syria would galvanize instability in Jordan. The leadership in Jordan is not very strong, and if the instability [from Syria] seeps into Jordan, where the Hashemite Kingdom is already being undermined by Iran … it’s very scary, because the border is not protected enough.

Published in Jewish Insider, December 16, 2024.

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Prof. kobi michael : Syria was once a key component of Iran’s resistance axis, but its collapse weakens both the axis and Iran itself. However, the fragmented control in southern Syria, where rebels maintain a significant presence, poses security concerns.

Israel’s primary objectives are: Preventing threats from Syrian territory to its borders.Ensuring the stability of Jordan, a critical regional interest.Israel has no intention of occupying or annexing Syrian land. Its actions focus on intelligence, operational freedom, and strategic cooperation to safeguard its security. To prevent advanced weapons from falling into rebel hands, Israel may act to neutralize such threats.

Israel’s presence in southern Syria is minimal and solely aimed at protecting its security until the situation stabilizes.

The interview was recorded for Beyond the Headlines on December 13, 2024.

Dr. Raphael BenLevi: U.S. governments have tried to leverage weapons supply before. However, it’s been acute and extreme in the past year.

We’ve dug ourselves into this dependency. It’s like welfare. People on welfare get used to having a certain amount of external aid. A day comes when they have to rearrange their affairs in order to manage without it.

At the strategic level, the advantages of independence and moving to a more reciprocal relationship with Washington clearly outweigh the benefits of continuing the status quo of dependence and receiving aid, which are mainly on the immediate economic level.

Published in JNS, December 13, 2024.

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Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser: The actions against Hamas and Hezbollah were steps toward dismantling Iran’s influence. The fall of Assad weakens Iran’s ability to project power into Lebanon and support Hezbollah, which now faces significant challenges in regrouping. This development also disrupts Iran’s ability to sustain ties with Hamas.

The situation has left Iran in a state of shock. Their aspirations of Middle Eastern hegemony and pressuring Israel into encirclement have crumbled. External factors, like Russia’s focus on Ukraine and shifts in U.S. policy under Trump, also contributed to this turning point. Furthermore, Turkey’s cooperation deserves acknowledgment.

The interview took place on Al Arabia on December 12, 2024.

Asher Fredman: Syria’s alliance with Iran and Russia has been essential for their regional dominance. Russia’s support prolonged Assad’s regime, and a swift fall could have exposed further evidence of their involvement. Financially, much of Assad’s regime assets are likely hidden under his and his wife’s names in foreign accounts.

Ruth Wasserman Lande: Two primary concerns arise regarding Iran. First, it may accelerate its nuclear ambitions to regain regional influence after losing key allies like Assad, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Second, despite ongoing tensions, Iran continues to transfer weapons through established networks, perpetuating the threat.

The interview took place on the I24 channel on December 11, 2024.

Prof. Kobi Michael: The territory guarantees strategic control over the whole southern Syrian arena, which generates an immediate threat to Israel. There is no higher vantage point than the Syrian part of the Golan.

Power in Syria is now de-centralized, with the country fragmented between several groups, most of them extreme Islamist, potentially posing a new array of threats to Israel.

Israel is not looking to apply sovereignty to the buffer zone, but rather to militarily control the area in order to prevent danger under conditions of instability.

Published in The Media Line & Ynet December 10, 2024

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