THREAT:
Israel

A Phase III assessment

Twenty-nine (29) existential threats to the country of Syria were identified by prime actors. In the chart below, the left column ranks the threats from the most important to solve (the Assad Regime/Civil War) to the least (chemical weapons). 

The threat of a hostile Israel is important because Israel neighbors Syria, has a strong military, and is supported by the United States. 

25 prime actors participated in the following:

• Determining the importance of the threat of a hostile Israel relative to other threats to the country. As shown in the chart below, the threat of a hostile Israel ranked 2nd most important.
• Assessing and classifying the progression of the Syrian response to a hostile Israel (indicated in the same row by the colored rectangle). Of the 25 prime actors who participated in the assessments, more agreed that the threat of a hostile Israel falls under the category of '1: Threat without solution'. These prime actors see a hostile Israel as a threat to which they have no solution.  

In response to questions about the seriousness of the threat of the threat of a hostile Israel— 

Round 3 participants stated (Nov. 2016 - Jul. 2017):

"Syria has never been under attack except from Israel. Syria never retaliated." (230713)

“The major story is the West's support of Israel and their victimization of Syria.” (236592)

“[The Israelis] were always the heroes.” (235931)

“The south of Syria is occupied by Israel.” (221211)

“There may be some Sunnis who disliked Assad's behavior in Lebanon, but mostly they see themselves as victims of Israel in that.” (239312)

Round 1 and 2 participants stated (Jan. 2016 - Oct. 2017):

"Use the Golan area as a free trade zone. It would be a demilitarized zone. It may be a good solution for any future conflicts with Israel. It would be 70 wide. This is the only solution to the Syria/Israel problem. It has been offered by the Legal Authority for Syrian Relations, published by Atlantic Magazine, and covered by CNN." (220291)