Refereed Academic Studies (12): The Israeli Strategy Towards the Syrian Crisis 2011–2018 (Arabic)

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Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations has published a new refereed academic article entitled, “The Israeli Strategy Towards the Syrian Crisis 2011–2018,” by the researcher in al-Zaytouna Centre and the specialist in Palestinian affairs, Basem Jalal Elkassem.

The study identifies the Israeli strategy of facing the challenges and developments on the northern front. And since the eruption of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Israel has found itself facing a new strategic reality that imposed new security challenges. When new international and regional players arrived on the stage of events it became incumbent on Israel to improve its strategic position, thus creating a conflict of wills involving all the parties, actors in the Syrian arena, in an attempt to reap benefits. The Israeli military leadership was never absent from what has taken place, and tried recruiting all its capabilities and connections to gain benefits, or at least keep the effects of the new reality from influencing Israeli national security, especially in connection to the strategic presence of Iran and Hizbullah in Syria.

This study tries to shed light on the Israeli strategy towards the Syrian crisis through:

1. Monitoring the developments of the Syrian crisis and its repercussions on the Israeli national security.

2. Discussing the Israeli strategy in facing the challenges and threats in the Syrian arena.

3. Unveiling the manner used by Israel in managing its relationships with the international and regional parties, active in the Syrian crisis.

The study concludes that the Israeli strategy has faced several obstacles, either due Israel’s limited capabilities, or because of the nature of the relationships, interests and entanglements that have arisen among international and regional players. There is also uncertainty about what might Tel Aviv have achieved in curbing the influence of Iran and Hizbullah in Syria, whether to prevent or undermine the military position there or to prevent the arrival of quality arms to Hizbullah stores in Lebanon.