Kremlin: Israel must learn to live with US and Russia’s truce agreement in Syria
The agreement to ensure a truce in southern Syria will not be abolished solely on account of Israel’s fears, it would be more reasonable not to take up arms against this agreement, but rather to find a way “to live with it”, stated Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.
As the Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported on Monday with reference to a senior source in the Israeli government, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the Jewish state categorically opposes Moscow and Washington’s plan regarding a truce in Southern Syria, since it will allow Iran to reinforce its presence in the region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said later that Israel’s security interests were completely taken into account in the creation of the de-escalation zones.
“Israel’s motives are not being hidden: it is afraid of Iran strengthening its position in the region, and also, similarly, the restriction of Tel Aviv’s ability to oppose [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]. However, no one is going to nullify such an important document which gives hope of a turning point in the Syrian situation solely because of Israel’s assumptions regarding Iran’s hypothetical intentions,” Kosachev wrote on his Facebook page. “This is why it would make more sense for Tel Aviv not to get up in arms against the already achieved agreement between Russia and the US, but rather to find a way to live with it, and to derive the benefits from defeating ISIS which are so obvious to all other countries in the region”.
The senator emphasized that Iran is an important participant in Middle Eastern processes, and its role in the Syrian resolution has provided an active position, in both a diplomatic and a military format.
Kosachev also added that he considers it important to hold “thorough negotiations” with Israel on this matter, as well as with the US and Russia.
The agreement to ensure a truce in southern Syria was achieved at a meeting of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on July 7 at the G20 summit in Hamburg. Netanyahu said earlier that Israel would welcome a true ceasefire in Syria.