State's Jewish leaders say Iran is watching Syria crisis closely

WASHINGTON — New York Jewish leaders say Israel’s stake in what’s happening in Syria is the message that’s being sent to Iran about its development of nuclear weapons.

And they agree with President Barack Obama’s statement in his nationally televised address Tuesday that “our ally Israel can defend itself with overwhelming force.’’

But the direct impact of the civil war in Syria is shared by Israel and the other bordering nations of Jordan and Turkey, they say.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., agreed.

“Syria is not an existential threat to Israel,” he said. “They can take care of themselves, but a nuclear Iran is, and that’s where Israel’s focus is.”

On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he expected the inspectors to release “an overwhelming report” that chemical weapons were indeed used on the outskirts of Damascus on Aug. 21. The chief inspector, Ake Sellstrom, told The Associated Press the report was ready, but he wouldn’t comment on its conclusions.

In Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made clear that any prospects for restarting broad peace negotiations depend on first settling the standoff over chemical weapons. But they didn’t disclose any clear movement since their meetings began Thursday. Kerry and Lavrov met with U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi about the potential for a new Geneva peace conference. Kerry said they agreed to meet around Sept. 28 in New York.

Jewish members of Congress have been divided over the request by the president for congressional authorization to use military force in Syria to penalize President Bashar Assad for allegedly killing Syrian civilians with chemical weapons.

Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida has been a leading opponent of military action, while Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel of the Bronx has been an outspoken supporter of a military intervention that would include degrading the Syrian air force’s ability to attack civilians.

David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, said Jewish groups share concern about Israel’s long-term protection.

“If the end result is that America appears weakened, divided, conflicted, it’s not good for America’s place in the world,” said Harris, who lives in Chappaqua. “You cannot tell Iran, ‘Don’t watch, because what happens here does not apply to you.’ The Iranians believe it very much applies to them. If they conclude we are war weary and we don’t have a domestic consensus even for limited action against Syria after they violate the chemical weapons bans, they may conclude the U.S. is a paper tiger.”

Harris said a miscalculation by the Iranians about U.S. resolve could lead to “a major war.”

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the nation’s largest pro-Israel lobbying group, was urging Congress to support military force against Syria.

In an email, AIPAC President Michael Kassen wrote, “We believe that Congress’ failure to grant the President this authority would be interpreted as a sign of American weakness, and cast doubt about whether America will act to carry out its commitments in the Middle East — including the President’s and Congress’ pledge to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

Israeli officials are trying to avoid making any statements on the outcome of the Syria civil war because it’s not clear how Israel would benefit from either side winning in the end, according to Nathan Guttman, Washington bureau chief of the Jewish Daily Forward. “There is no direct Israeli interest in the civil war in Syria,” he said.

Hezbollah has been weakened by the civil war and is less of a threat to Israel as a result.

Some members of Congress have pointed out in recent committee hearings on Syria that al-Qaida has a significant presence among the rebel forces. If the rebels toppled Assad, al-Qaida could gain control of chemical weapons.

The Poughkeepsie Journal