Israel strikes Syria's capital

It’s like a reflex and it’s for public consumption. Saudi’s prince said that Khameni was like adolf hitler and if that Iran got a nuke saudi would have to too, he also intercepted Iranian missiles heading towards Israel . But he had to put out a statement of condemnation anyway.

You are much better informed than me about the region.

But I totally believe that there are people in the Middle East that would kill others just for being the wrong religion. There is a lot of evidence for that.

Exactly, they are and he’s just cemented the trust between the Israeli government and Druze Israelis and a sense of friendship from most normal Druze in Lebanon and Syria. Big bonus is civilians not being massacred by Islamists.

I also don’t get why the west doesn’t get that there are people out there in the middle east who will kill you for being the wrong religion. It’s a real thing, it’s not political it’s religious. Just look at the Copts in Egypt. Harrasment, kidnappings murder etc. I know quite a few Egyptians copts, nice decent, well educated people, don’t bother anyone, just get on with their own stuff.

I’ve lived in the middle east and I think there is so much projection of European viewpoints. “People can’t reeeeallly believe in their religion so much that they would try to eradicate other people, it’s political”. No really there are people out there who have a religious basis for their hatred.

As much as I think this particular Druze leader is a pain in the ass, the Druze were attacked by Bedouin and then government forces. This is in no way reasonable and it shouldn’t have happened. They really didn’t start it.

I think Netanyahu cares about the Druze. Not in a “cuddly way” but because they are allies. From that point of view it is logical that he would seek to protect them while under attack.

There's a lot some posters don't understand - or even try to. What a surprise, the Arab states are criticising Israel's intervention. I doubt Israel will pay any attention to its collective enemy.

Only way to stop a potential massacre, more troops were moving towards suweida, it could have been really bad.

I actually do think Jolani wants Syria to be a normal country (I know a lot of Israelis would disagree with me). The Israelis are wise to watch their border, who knows if he’ll last. But getting his country under his control is a challenge. Hopefully he gets it sorted.

Yeah as I said the Druze are a hardy bunch, probably best to leave some minorities alone and not try to butcher their people.

I think people just really don’t understand the middle-east, cross border tribes and the importance off ally’s somewhere like the middle east. Europe and america often do things to piss each other off, the loyalty of allyship is different in the middle east where shitting on your friends can get you actually killed. Whatever noises some Druze leadership make the Druze people will see Israel intervene on behalf of their people and will approve. I’m just happy the jihadis were stopped before they went hog wild.

They are projecting european perspectives onto the middle east.

I don't support the bombings and think Israel is getting itself into trouble, but don't mistake that for thinking the current Syrian government is innocent. Sometimes, there can be more than one villain in a situation.

Anyway, Bibi's got enough of a domestic disaster on his doorstep right now.

Because they don’t care about islamists murdering Druze?

Why is it only Israel, who gets criticised for protecting its own and those loyal to it?

Or maybe you can tell me why the US were pleading with Israel to stop bombing Syria?

Does anyone genuinely believe that Netanyahu gives a damn about the Druze? He’s made it clear he only cares about power and control, much to the detriment of his own people. This was clearly a strike with a not so well hidden agenda.

I would say the Israelis deserve better but far too many still support him and his expansion plans.

That being said, whilst I don’t think Israel bombed Syria to protect the Druze, at least by doing so, pressure is now on Jolani to get things under control.

Yep, nail on head. The poster's intentions are quite clear. I wouldn't bother engaging further @user37482 . Your efforts are wasted. In bashing Israel, they are making out its neighbours are angelic. Laughable.

And I knew you wouldn't be able to answer my question either because it would bring to light the hypocrisy of the Israeli government.

I wasn't talking about Gaza either. And there's not only one side that has been involved in the killing as you very well know.

From the figures more government forces have been killed than Druze

"They include 79 Druze fighters and 55 civilians, 27 of whom were summarily killed by interior ministry and defence ministry forces, according to the group.
At least 189 members of the government forces and 18 Bedouin tribal fighters have also been killed in the clashes, it says."

I knew you wouldn’t even attempt to give me an answer.

Arguing in bad faith because all you really interested in is more Israel bashing.

I forgot to add Jews to that list.

We aren’t talking about Gaza.

We are talking about the Druze. You would have let them massacre an ally?

What do you think Israel's neighbours should do to stop them killing and oppressing Palestinians in the west bank?

Israel should get their own house in order before bombing other countries. Jolani as a fairly new interim president is struggling (as expected) with some of the extreme elements.

Netanyahu as a fairly old president is aiding and abetting the extremist settlers and extremist elements in his government. Which one is worst?

If Israel hadn’t intervened Government forces would have killed more Druze, now the Druze are by all accounts a hardy bunch but they are not as numerous or as well equipped as a government army will be. It is as simple as that. No-one came for the alwaites and a thousand died.

Again complicated because there was an Alwaite militia present BUT this is a country barely out of war. Their army will confront other Syrians like they are a foreign army not like our army would deal with british citizens. They also have no compunction about murdering civilians in cold blood. It is compounded by the fact that their army is full of “reformed extremists” who see anyone who is not a sunni muslim as basically non human.

What would you do to stop them killing & humiliating Druze men?

The US are pushing for normalisation. I don't think Netanyahu or his extremists in government want it. I don't think the extremists in Jolani's government want it either. If you think bombing the capital made the path more likely, then I have a bridge to sell you.

The reality is minority groups fare badly in the middle east wherever they are. No-one in the west much cares about Alawites, Christians , Druze or Kurds.