This U.S.-Russia-Jordan Peace Agreement Doesn’t Go Far Enough for Israel

Israel on Sunday reacted to the recent “US-Russia-Jordan Memorandum of Principles,” confirming that it does not meet Israel’s demands and security needs.

The agreement, created by Russia, the United States, and Jordan on Saturday, is intended to eliminate “non-Syrian foreign forces” from the Golan Heights that pose a threat to Israel and Jordan.

Israeli MP Tzachi Hanegbi announced on Sunday that the agreement does not meet Israel’s demands and that the Jewish State has every right to defend itself, stating the agreement “does not meet Israel’s unequivocal demand that there will not be developments that bring the forces of Hezbollah or Iran to the Israel-Syria border in the north,” adding that “there’s reflection here of the understanding that Israel has set red lines, and will stand firm on this.”

Israel’s Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz emphasized that the agreement must result in actions and not just words, and that Israel will not tolerate the threats Iran places close to its border. “Even though we view favorably the agreement on the need to eliminate the foreign forces, namely, the Iranian forces, Hezbollah and the Shiite militias from the area [and] the test will be on the ground, not in words but in deeds,” he said on Monday. “Israel has already made it clear that it shall not accept Iran and its affiliates and proxies basing themselves in Syria, which will be a permanent threat and a constant source of tension, friction and instability.”

According to reports from Israeli officials, the current agreement would allow Iranian and Hezbollah forces to get as close as five kilometers to Israel’s borders in the near future.

During his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Iran’s threat close to Israel’s borders stating to his ministers. “We will take a very firm stance against anyone who tries to attack us or attacks us from any area. I mean any source: rogue factions, organizations- anyone.”

The agreement was made following months of talks and negotiations between Russia and the U.S. with Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly centered his last meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Moscow in August.

Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.