The US, Israel, and Russia will meet to discuss Iran’s plans to entrench itself in Syria and the withdrawal of American troops from that country
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ext month, National Security Advisor John Bolton of the United States, Israel’s head of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat, Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, will come together in Jerusalem for a three-way summit, the first of its kind, to discuss Iran’s plans to entrench itself in Syria and the withdrawal of American troops from that country.
The situation on the northern border is now approaching a boiling point. On Motzaei Shabbos, two missiles were fired from Syria toward the Hermon. The IDF reacted by attacking Syrian positions. This ritual repeats itself every few weeks.
Theoretically, a three-way conference is a no-brainer. All three countries have a stake in Syria, but since each has different interests, the potential for friction is real. Therefore, cooperation between the parties is a necessity.
In fact, however, the summit is a major surprise. For years, the United States ran the Middle East. But now, because of the Obama administration’s policy in Syria, which has more or less been continued under Trump, Russia has a seat at the table. American acquiescence to such a summit is a recognition of the reality.
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