German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her understanding of Israeli concerns about Iran on the occasion of the Holocaust Memorial Day. It is „important and correct“ that Israel represents its security interests, said Merkel in the Israeli radio interview published yesterday. „And Iran has a policy that is threatening to Israel, that’s right.“
Asked about Israeli air strikes against Iranian targets in civil-war-stricken Syria, Merkel said: „Israel must secure its existence, and the situation in Syria is, of course, a very threatening one for Israel as well. That is why we are working to ensure that, for example, no Iranian forces are so close to the Golan Heights. „She talked about this with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Violent attacks on Iranian positions
Israel had only fiercely attacked Syrian and Iranian positions in Syria during the night last Monday. Previously, Israeli air defense had intercepted a Syrian-fired rocket over the Golan Heights.
In recent years, the Israeli Air Force has repeatedly attacked targets in neighboring Syria in order to prevent a lasting military establishment of its archenemy Iran there. In addition to Russia, Iran is the closest ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war.
Israel and Syria are hostile countries. During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel had conquered the Syrian Golan Heights and later annexed it. Already during a visit to Israel in October, Merkel said that Iran, with its troops close to the Golan Heights, was a threat to Israel.
