Is the Noose Tightening Around Syria?

If so, it couldn't happen to a nicer regime. Following the terror attack Friday night in Tel Aviv that claimed 4 lives, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz declared that Syria and Islamic Jihad were responsible. In Mofaz declares a freeze on PA town handovers, writer Margot Dudkevitch and the JPOST staff write about Mofaz and the possible ramifications. Mofaz said that the stability of the region is threatened by Syria, which of course is not news to those of us who travel the blogway. Syria and their proxy fighters, Hezbollah, have always been a bloody thorn in the side of Israel. Now that Abu Mazen and the PA have to look like they're behaving, expect Hezbollah to step up their operations. In anticipation, Israeli security officials "will meet with ambassadors of all the countries who are members of the United Nations Security Council to demand that a strong condemnation against Syria be issued." Yay! Israel is going to stick up for themselves. And that's not all:

"In the coming weeks, Mofaz will dispatch Defense Ministry officials to meet with government leaders in London, Paris and Washington and present them with details of Syria's involvment in terror and ask them to vest pressure on Syria to stop its activities." Another "Yay!"

The plan also includes demanding Abu Mazen act to halt terror activities from territories under his control. I feel that's a no-brainer. Hello?! Isn't that what he's supposed to have been doing? Oh wait. Now he needs to do it. Riiiight. Had to wait until we had more dead Israelis before we get serious. But I digress. Here was one paragraph that really caught my eye:

"The process of handing over the security control of West Bank cities to the Palestinians will be frozen until the Palestinians start taking action on the ground, but dialogue between the sides will continue security officials said."

I can get behind this. Just keep in mind one thing that won't change:

"Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert noted, 'The attack would not derail or change the timetable of the disengagement plan.' "

For what it's worth, I think it's good to continue talks but there has to be some repercussions and not getting control handed over is a valid action. I'm sure some are wondering why this terror attack should have an affect on things (since that would be letting the terrorists win--after all, they want to derail the process)? There's a very good reason -- because precious lives were lost!

"So far, the names of three of the four fatalities have been released for publication: Aryeh Nagar, 37, of Kfar Saba, whose funeral will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in his hometown; Yael Orbach, 28, of Rehovot, who was set to get married in just weeks; her funeral is set for 12:00 p.m. Sunday in Kfar Saba. The other name given was Yitzhak Buzaglo, 40, from Moshav Ha'Yarden. His funeral is set for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in his hometown. Buzaglo's wife Linda is hospitalized in serious condition."

Never forget.