Senior Russian MP: Israel must ‘learn to live’ with Russia-US agreement on
Syria ceasefire
Israel categorically opposes the ceasefire agreement reached by the US and
Russia as it will give an opportunity for Iran to expand its presence in the
region
July 18, 1:41 UTC+3
http://tass.com/politics/956678

MOSCOW, July 18. /TASS/. The ceasefire agreement in southern Syria reached
by Moscow and Washington will not be revoked only because Israel’s fears,
and it would be more reasonable for Israel to find a way "to live with this"
instead of coming down on this agreement, a senior Russian parliamentarian
wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.

Israel categorically opposes the ceasefire agreement reached by the US and
Russia as it will give an opportunity for Iran to expand its presence in the
region, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper said on Sunday citing Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said later that the interests of
Israel’s security were fully taken into account.

According to Lavrov, Moscow and Washington carried out preparatory work on a
ceasefire in southern Syria with all parties concerned, including Israel. "I
can guarantee that the American side and we did the best we can to make sure
that Israel’s security interests are fully taken into consideration," Russia’s
top diplomat stressed.

"Israel’s motives are not concealed: it fears the strengthening of Iran’s
position in the region, and also, it appears, limited possibilities for Tel
Aviv itself to act against [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]. However,
nobody will be revoking such an important document that gives hopes for a
breakthrough in the Syrian situation only because of Israel’s guesses about
Iran’s hypothetic intentions," the chairman of the Federation Council’s
committee for international affairs Konstantin Kosachev posted on Facebook.

"That is why, it would be more reasonable for Tel Aviv not to come down on
the already reached agreement between Russia and the US, but instead find
ways how to live with this and reap benefits from victory over Islamic State
(a terrorist group outlawed in Russia) which are clear for all countries of
the region," Kosachev said.

The legislator from the upper house of the Russian parliament stressed that
Iran is a major participant in Middle East processes and has secured its
role in the Syrian settlement with an active position both in the military
and diplomatic formats.

Kosachev also said he deemed it important for the US and Russia to carry out
‘in-depth negotiations’ with Israel on the issue.

A ceasefire agreement for southern Syria was reached by Russian and US
Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, at their meeting on the
sidelines of the Group of Twenty summit in Germany’s Hamburg on July 7.

Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel would hail real cessation of hostilities in
Syria.