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Israel wants Syrians out of Golan Heights: Commentator

Monday, 04 July 2016 2:03 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 04 July 2016 2:03 PM ]

Israeli troopers maneuver tanks during a military drill in the northern part of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria on June 23, 2016. (AFP photo)

Press TV has interviewed Christopher Walker, a journalist and political commentator in London, about Israel hitting two Syrian army targets in the Golan Heights in response to what it calls stray fire from the Syrian side.

A rough transcription of the interview appears below.

Press TV: First of all, give us your assessment of the recent Israeli attacks in Syria.

Walker: Well as you reported, there have been such attacks in the past but I think this is very serious because [there] pertains to be no real excuse from them. Random fire does not mean very much, and Israel has always taken the decision that the Golan Heights belongs to it and it repels all attempts by the Syrians to have a presence there.

This is a sign I think of how hard line the Israeli government is now becoming again and that more such attacks could be expected, the world being somewhat diverted by other crises away from the area.

Press TV: As you mentioned this is not the first time the Israelis have carried out such attacks. So what is also alarming is the fact that they can carry out these attacks without having to answer for their actions.

Walker: Yes, as I said the world appears to have other matches on its hands at the moment and Israel has got away in the past with very little problem from these attacks and that is why I say I have every reason to believe that they will probably continue along this line although we have to hope they won’t escalate further.

Press TV: Tel Aviv is widely believed to be one of the key backers of terrorists in Syria. Would you believe that there is any significance to the timing of these attacks given the fact that the Takfiri terrorists are suffering heavy losses in both Syria and Iraq?

Walker: Yes, I think there is. I think it is a sign that Israel is prepared to play its hand in those two conflict areas in ways that it can do with little repercussions against itself because of course the Golan Heights has been occupied since 1967.

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