Israel seeks to influence the United States in order to leave Syria weak and decentralized, allowing Russia to preserve its military bases there to counteract the growing influence of Turkey, Reuters reports with reference to four sources allegedly familiar with this topic.
Turkish relations with Israel were seriously tested during the Gaza war, and Israeli officials told Washington that the new Islamic rulers supported by Ankara pose a threat to Israeli borders.
The lobbying of this point of view by Israel occurs at a critical moment for Syria, when the Islamists, who overthrew Bashar al-Asad, try to stabilize the fragmented state and achieve from Washington the abolition of strict sanctions.