The assassination of Soleimani ... Israeli silence and preparedness for Iranian revenge

Mohamed Mohsen Wedd - occupied Jerusalem

While official Israel remained silent about the assassination of America, commander of the "Quds Force" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, at Baghdad airport early Friday, the security services in Tel Aviv declared a state of emergency on the borders with Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Golan, and mobilization in the Israeli embassies and consulates around the world.

On the alert and alert, Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and Chief of Staff of the Army Aviv Kochavi met, led by the army and the security and military establishment, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, to assess the security situation and assess the situation and discuss Israeli measures, in anticipation of any Iranian response or its allies in Syria or Lebanon, or Gaza strip.

As a preventive and proactive measure for any initial response, Israel has increased the security level of embassies and facilities, and has issued instructions for Jewish tourists to be alert. While the IDF took emergency preparedness measures.

In anticipation of any emergency, the Israeli army closed the Jabal Al-Sheikh resort to visitors in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, and kept its forces in a state of emergency and alert on the northern border with Lebanon and at the ceasefire line with Syria.

Silence and anticipation
As usual in such events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains silent and refrains from commenting on the US operation in Iraq, knowing that Israeli media have reported that the Pentagon officially informed Tel Aviv of the details of the operation prior to the assassination of Soleimani, as instructed by President Donald Trump.

Despite the silence of the Israeli Prime Minister regarding the American strike on Baghdad airport, Netanyahu said, on Thursday, at Ben Gurion Airport on his way to participate in a tripartite summit in Greece, "We know that the East is rough and where very dramatic events occur."

Netanyahu added, "We follow events with vigilance and maintain constant contact with our great friend, the United States. I would like to say something clear. We fully support all American steps and fully support their right to defend themselves and their citizens."

Netanyahu's comments came 12 hours before the American strike on the assassination of Soleimani, which confirms that, despite the silence, Tel Aviv was fully aware of the details of the assassination.

Estimates and scenarios
Based on past experiences of assassinating pro-Iranian figures of this magnitude and size, Israeli estimates agree that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its allies may respond to the assassination of Soleimani with attacks around the world against American and possibly Israeli targets.

On the meaning of the assassination of Soleimani among the Iranians, Israeli analysts believe that the assassination is a major and serious blow to the awareness of the Revolutionary Guards and the regime in Iran, but it will not affect Iran's strategies, activities, and influence in the Middle East.

They estimate that the assassination of the Iranian official would enhance attempts to export the Iranian Shiite revolution, a role Soleimani was charged with leading, and reflects Iran's desire to dominate and control the Middle East, as the Israeli analyst put it.

Face and position
Ron Bin Yishai, the military analyst for the Yediot Aharonot website, believes that "the assassination of Soleimani will not end Iran's sabotage activity in the Middle East, nor its aspirations for hegemony and influence."

He asserts that Iranian activity in the region will continue, indicating that the confrontation with the United States and its allies in the region, including Israel, will witness a state of escalation as a result of the assassination of Soleimani.

"Despite the hostile rhetoric of Tehran, the Iranians are likely to avoid moves that will lead to an all-out war with the Americans or Israel," he added.

On estimates of the Iranian response to Israeli targets, Bin Yishai ruled out that the Iranian response would be immediate, but he believed that Tehran would wait a little and retaliate, perhaps by shooting Israeli territory by Iranian forces in Syria, and perhaps even from Gaza.

U-turn and calculation
For his part, the correspondent of the official Israeli channel, "Kan" for military and security affairs, took into account Sharon, that the assassination of Soleimani dealt a severe blow to Tehran regarding the Iranian military positioning plan in Syria, but he estimates that in the absence of organized leadership of the Quds Force, any small misjudged incident can It develops into a massive conflict and all-out confrontation.

He explained that the assassination of Soleimani was a good news for Israel, but it is highly recommended that Israeli officials celebrate it and remain silent, especially as Israel is the available and comfortable thing to carry out reprisals.

The Military and Security Affairs correspondent believes that the assassination of Soleimani, who has been active for 20 years in Syria and Lebanon to enhance the military capabilities of Tehran's allies, especially Hezbollah and the regime of Bashar al-Assad, will not end the Iranian military position, but there is no doubt that the Iranian position in Syria, which has greatly troubled Israel in recent years He took a major and fundamental turn after the assassination.