"This could get ugly"

In this Aug. 16, 2015 file photo, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at his office, in Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2015, that he would meet with President Vladimir Putin next week to outline the new threats posed to Israel as a result of Russia’s recent infusion of advanced weapons to Syria. Israel is particularly concerned about the weaponry making its way into the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, File)

StrategyPage reports on the diplomatic moves going on between Russia and Israel, as Russia continues its military deployments to Syria:

Israeli and Russian diplomats are quietly trying to work out an arrangement regarding the recent Russian military buildup in Syria. Russia plans to bring in warplanes and modern anti-aircraft systems and already has several hundred soldiers and air force personnel operating near the Syrian coast. The Israelis have bombed previous shipments of Russian anti-aircraft systems into Syria because they were believed likely to end up in Lebanon (with Iran backed Hezbollah) or in Iran itself. This could get ugly.

Let’s back this up slightly.

Before, Israel was bombing Russian gear. Now the Israelis trying to work with Moscow — why?

Two reasons, presumably:

• Israel obviously doesn’t want advanced antiaircraft gear ending up with Hezbollah.

• Israel does however seem to recognize that somebody has to fight ISIS, and that somebody is Russia. From that, it would appear that Israel doesn’t want to be working at cross-purposes.

What’s stunning — ugly, to borrow a word — is that if the diplomats work this out, it will mean that in the Middle East’s most important hot spot, the IDF and Russia’s armed forces will be cooperating better than the IDF and American forces are.

Make no mistake: Russia is now the powerbroker in the northern half of the Levant, and Israel is acting accordingly.