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Israel's Brooding Versus Hopeful Expectation for Peace

Israel's brooding over Syria should be shifted to hopeful expectation of a peaceful outcome.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends a graduation ceremony of Israeli naval officers in the northern city of Haifa September 11, 2013. Netanyahu said on Wednesday Syria must be stripped of its chemical weapons and that the international community must make sure those who use weapons of mass destruction pay a price.   REUTERS/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTX13HV1

It seems that the resumption of the Geneva II conference, and the increased chances of dismantling Syria's chemical weapons and putting them under UN supervision, is causing a high level of anxiety in Israel. This explains why the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) deployed nearly 250 members last week to lobby reluctant members of Congress to support the strike envisioned by President Barack Obama. However, the current Israeli reaction is encapsulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's quoting of the ancient Jewish scholar Hillel, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me.” In other words, he further stated: “The State of Israel today is prepared to act with great strength.”

As Jodi Rudoren reported in The New York Times on Sept. 12, “Israelis have largely been disappointed by what they describe as Mr. Obama’s indecision...” This is definitely a flawed argument.

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