The Iranian Diversion

Iran is at a difficult place in its foreign relations. Its main arab ally, Syria, is in the process of ousting the regime which befriended Iran. Many think that it is only a matter of time until the Assad regime is toppled. Of course, Assad and his Baath party are fighting the peaceful protests with tanks, machine guns and grenades. If the courage of the protesters fails, Assad will hang on to power.

One item which provides a major help to the protesters is the support of their cause by other governments. When the Saudis withdrew their ambassador from Damascus, the protesters understood that to be an expression of solidarity. Even when the USA finally said the Assad must go, that was, no matter how belated, an expression which could help give the protesters the impetus to continue their struggle. Indeed, the rising international condemnation of Assad is fueling the fires of protest in Syria.

This is why the Iranians have decided to try to create a diversion which will occupy the world's attention and dishearten the protesters. That diversion is the latests terror attacks in Southern Israel by Hamas, another Iranian ally. Iran wants everyone to focus on these attacks. Indeed, I expect that there will be more in the days ahead. Hamas will strike again; it has been firing rockets into Israel in numbers not seen for three years. Forty-five have hit southern Israel in just the last day with the result that there were many injuries and some damage. My guess is that within a week or two the Hezbollah forces which constitute Iran's closest ally in the region will start shooting into Israel from Lebanon. Iran's goal is to rally arabs to unite against Israel and take attention from the slaughter in Syria.

It is time for the world to take further steps to support the Syrian uprising. We cannot let Iran use the killings of Israelis to divert attention from the murderous Assad regime. The truth is that probably the best way for the terror attacks to be stopped is for the Assad regime to fall. A new Sunni government in Damascus would quickly cut ties with Iran, a move the would isolate both Hezbollah and Hamas. Those terrorists should be less likely to fire off their rockets into Israel if they know that there will be no easy resupply though Syria from Iran.