Advocates on behalf of Israel including Alon Ben-Meir are now coming b realise that they now need to treat with respect the government of Bashar Al- Assad, which is obviously popular with Syrian people and more democratic than others in the Middle East including that of the Criminal Apartheid Zionist Settler State in Occupied Palestine. The latter obviously hoped Syria would be broken up into small states on ethnic lines with pro USA puppet governments. Thanks to Hezbellah, Iran and Russia this dream and the longer term one of the Oded Yinon plan for a "Greater Israel" is being shattered.

Seems to me that after the terrorists trying to overthrow the Syrian government and also unauthorised foreign military - especially that of the USA have been cleared from its territory, Syria should demand that Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights, which are Syrian territory it has illegally occupied since the 1967 war. Has been proven that Israel will just continue to ignore international pressure to do so unless backed by threat of force. Undoubtedly would be widely regarded by many other than those supporting Zionist views to have the Syrian military backed by Hezbellah and Iranians reclaim the Golan. Also, needs backing of Russian forces in the area to help stop further Israeli attacks in Syria and Lebanon and if necessary retaliate. Would be interesting to see how the Israel Defence Force, with its record of brutality against largely unarmed Palestinians performs against troops who are experienced and battle hardened from defeating the Western sponsored insurgency in Syria. Of course if they gained the upper hand, most likely Israel would be calling for a ceasefire. Just like in Syria when government forces have had western and Gulf State supported terrorists on the run to allow them to regroup better.

Dear Mox,

The only possible military challenge for Israel is Russia - but Russia and Israel are on good terms and have nothing against each other. Israel has maintained neutrality around Ukraine, but if anything, it leans towards the Russians there due to increased anti-Semitism in Ukraine as well as its deteriorating relations with Erdogan's Turkey.

Also, the vast majority of Israelis do not share the lunatic dreams of that Oded Yinon for a greater Israel.

Assad kept his cease-fire agreement with Israel for decades and will continue to keep it: he has enough on his plate to try to recover Syria and he is a rational ophthalmologist, not a suicidal fool!

Both Russia and Iran helped Assad, but Russia doesn't need the Iranians there - they want to control Syria on their own and in fact, they will be quite happy and turn a blind eye once Israel attacks and drives out the Iranians out from Syria (with Russia's prior covert coordination and agreement).

Just to confirm the good relationship between Russia and Israel, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Russia-praises-West-Jerusalem-for-not-joining-anti-Russia-hysteria-545332?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=spotim_recirculation&spotim_referrer=recirculation&spot_im_comment_id=sp_jpost_545332_c_UnBZfC