Israeli President Rivlin: Jewish State Forced to React as Iran Seeks Syria Stronghold

The Algemeiner reports: JNS.org – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday that Iran and Hezbollah were attempting to create a permanent foothold in Syria that would “force Israel to react.”

Rivlin said Iran’s efforts to establish a foothold in Syria and create Shi’a militias throughout the Middle East represented a direct threat to Israel and that Iran was liable to “sink the whole region into war.” The Israeli president also said the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group had “consistently violated UN Security Council resolutions,” which was endangering both the Lebanese and Israeli people.

“The president clarified that the weapons infrastructure that Hezbollah was building may require the State of Israel to respond,” a statement by Rivlin’s office said.