It’s “business as usual” in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left on Monday for a scheduled meeting in China — just a few hours after his country sent in two aircraft strikes against Syria.
Israel unofficially characterized its strikes as defensive, saying any attacks of such nature were intended to interrupt shipments of arms to Hezbollah. The government has yet to officially confirm its strikes, The Associated Press reported. Syria has called the strikes acts of war, and Iran has joined its ally in hinting at revenge, various media reported.
But for Israel — it’s back to governing. Mr. Netanyahu’s departure to China suggests to military analysts that Israel doesn’t expect an immediate retaliation, AP reported.
Israeli lawmaker Tzahi Hanegbi said Israel’s goals was “to keep advanced weapons from Hezbollah as soon as intentions are exposed and refrain from tension with Syria,” he said in the AP report. “So if there is activity, then it is only against Hezbollah and not against the Syrian regime. In that context, you must see the fact that Israel doesn’t officially admit to its operations, and that the prime minister left yesterday for China and [there is] the feeling of business as usual.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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