DTN Iraq: Yaalon Warns Syria: Israel Will Act to Defend its Citizens:http://bit.ly/S6DtuW
9:39 PM - 9 Nov 12 · Details
Yaalon Warns Syria: Israel Will Act to Defend its Citizens
After condemnations by the UN and Israeli warnings have done nothing to stop Syrian spillover, Yaalon warns of Israeli action
By Annie Lubin
First Publish: 11/9/2012, 3:05 PM
Israeli soldiers patrol the area near the Syrian border
After condemnation by the United Nations and Israeli warnings to Syria not to enter the demilitarized buffer zone have done nothing to halt the numerous incidences of Syrian spill over into the Golan Heights, Israel's deputy prime minister Moshe Yaalon warned Damascus on Friday that it would act to defend its sovereignty if the bloody fighting in Syria continued to spill over into the Golan Heights.
"We see the Syrian regime as responsible for what is happening along the border," said Yaalon.
"The current situation in Syria could carry on for an extended and bloody period. If we see that it spills over in our direction, we know how to defend the citizens and the sovereignty of the State of Israel," he continued. "The other side has received a lot of messages recently and until now, has acted accordingly in Syria. I hope that in this incident too, there will be someone who takes this in hand."
His remarks, published on his official Twitter account, were made a day after three stray mortar rounds fired from Syria hit the Golan, the latest in a string of incidents in which fire has spilled across the ceasefire line onto the Israeli side.
"They are apparently shells fired in error during fighting between different forces inside Syria," an army spokeswoman told AFP.
On Monday, an Israeli military vehicle patrolling the buffer zone was hit by gunfire, with the army acknowledging it was caused by "stray bullets." No one was injured but the incident prompted an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council in which it described the gunfire as a "grave violation" of a 1974 agreement on security in the buffer zone.
"This represents a dangerous escalation that could have far-reaching implications for the security and stability of our region," said Israel's UN ambassador Ron Prosor. "Israel has shown maximum restraint. However, Israel views the continued violations of the Separation of Forces agreement by the Syrian military forces with the utmost concern," he said in a letter to the Security Council.
On Sunday, chief of staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz warned that Israel could become involved in the Syrian conflict. "This is a Syrian affair that could turn into our affair," he said on a visit to the sector, without elaborating.
Chief military spokesman Yoav Mordechai, who accompanied Gantz, warned that Israeli troops in the area were "ready at any moment for the fire to change direction and turn on us."
Since Israel and Syria signed the 1974 disengagement agreement, a 1,200-strong unarmed UN force has patrolled the buffer zone.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161909#.UJ1Hdmez5nA
After condemnations by the UN and Israeli warnings have done nothing to stop Syrian spillover, Yaalon warns of Israeli action
By Annie Lubin
First Publish: 11/9/2012, 3:05 PM
Israeli soldiers patrol the area near the Syrian border
After condemnation by the United Nations and Israeli warnings to Syria not to enter the demilitarized buffer zone have done nothing to halt the numerous incidences of Syrian spill over into the Golan Heights, Israel's deputy prime minister Moshe Yaalon warned Damascus on Friday that it would act to defend its sovereignty if the bloody fighting in Syria continued to spill over into the Golan Heights.
"We see the Syrian regime as responsible for what is happening along the border," said Yaalon.
"The current situation in Syria could carry on for an extended and bloody period. If we see that it spills over in our direction, we know how to defend the citizens and the sovereignty of the State of Israel," he continued. "The other side has received a lot of messages recently and until now, has acted accordingly in Syria. I hope that in this incident too, there will be someone who takes this in hand."
His remarks, published on his official Twitter account, were made a day after three stray mortar rounds fired from Syria hit the Golan, the latest in a string of incidents in which fire has spilled across the ceasefire line onto the Israeli side.
"They are apparently shells fired in error during fighting between different forces inside Syria," an army spokeswoman told AFP.
On Monday, an Israeli military vehicle patrolling the buffer zone was hit by gunfire, with the army acknowledging it was caused by "stray bullets." No one was injured but the incident prompted an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council in which it described the gunfire as a "grave violation" of a 1974 agreement on security in the buffer zone.
"This represents a dangerous escalation that could have far-reaching implications for the security and stability of our region," said Israel's UN ambassador Ron Prosor. "Israel has shown maximum restraint. However, Israel views the continued violations of the Separation of Forces agreement by the Syrian military forces with the utmost concern," he said in a letter to the Security Council.
On Sunday, chief of staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz warned that Israel could become involved in the Syrian conflict. "This is a Syrian affair that could turn into our affair," he said on a visit to the sector, without elaborating.
Chief military spokesman Yoav Mordechai, who accompanied Gantz, warned that Israeli troops in the area were "ready at any moment for the fire to change direction and turn on us."
Since Israel and Syria signed the 1974 disengagement agreement, a 1,200-strong unarmed UN force has patrolled the buffer zone.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161909#.UJ1Hdmez5nA
