Israel Not Able to Neutralize Syria’s Chemical Weapons

Israel is becoming increasingly concerned of the threat that Syria's vast arsenal of chemical weapons might fall into the hands of Jihadist organizations. Admitting it does not have the capabilities to prevent such a scenario, Israel looks to the international community, hoping it will act to seize Syria's non-conventional weapons after President Bashar al-Assad's fall. This is partly due to the fact that almost half of the population of Israel lacks protective gear against non-conventional weaponry.

Although it is one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world, estimated at several hundred tons, Israel never considered Syria's non-conventional arsenal a serious threat. For several decades, Israelis lived next to this immense reservoir of nerve gas without fear, knowing that neither Hafez nor Assad would dare use it against Israel, as Israeli retaliation would end their reign.

Moreover, even in the last two years, Bashar has acted responsibly to secure his chemical weapons and prevent them from falling into the opposition's hands. As he has lost control of more and more parts of the country, Bashar has redeployed the weapons into the areas under his control, reinforcing their security, while reassuring Israel through mediators he has no intentions to use them against it.

But now, for the first time, this horrifying arsenal could be left without an owner. Any day now, Assad may be killed or choose to flee the country, leaving behind thousands of bombs and missiles designed to deliver chemical weapons. While most of the Syrian opposition groups have no interest in chemical weapons, the large number of radical Islamist operatives that arrived to Syria in the last year are already coveting these lethal substances.