I agree with Dr Pipes but for different reasons: Autonomous zones, Buffers, Druze, redefining Syrian and Palestine.

Submitted by Yusuf (Israel), Apr 14, 2013 at 10:58

You make Excellent points and are totally transparent in your mixed feelings and rationale. In summary, there are no identifiable good guys who are worthy of support at this time. You are therefore supporting the lesser of 2 evils as a realpolitik. Or the enemy of my bigger enemy gets my reluctant and temporary support.

I came to the same conclusion but for other reasons. I am pro-Balkanization as an anti-Caliphate strategy. To the extent that Druze identity is political and not just seperatist/religious perhaps a Druze buffer zone may be created between Jews and (now fighting) Muslims. Ideally between parts of the vacated Golan UNDOF zone and towards Damascas. There should be further Balkanization of Lebanon and Syria along ethnic and religious lines (including a Christian Arab state or autonomous zone or a Phonecea). I also support reframing of Palestinians as southern Syrians and the Sunni Syrians and Lebanese as northern Palestinians. I asked an English speaking Druze tour guide in northern Israel a few weeks ago about a Druze autonomous zone between the Golan and Damascus. His response was this would change Druze policy for the last 1000 years and there would have to be a consensus of the elders and scholars.

A question I ask myself is how much clandestine support will Israel give to both sides. Between 1980-88, Israel had to concern itself with fewer threats and therefore the Suez Canal zone was safer as Iran and the Sunnis vented Islamic rages and satisfied primitive tribal blood lusts with at each other. Neither Syrian nor Lebanon are stable or were stable since their artificial creations post WW 1. Balkanization of these former French mandates into an Alawite area, Christian/Phonecian area, Druze area, Sunni Area that is also called northern Palestine, Shiite, area, and Kurdish area seems like a natural and practical solution.

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