Whether Israel’s raid on a terrorist training camp in Syria this week was a one-time warning or part of a larger campaign, Damascus is more likely to ’scream and escalate’ than ’compromise and concede’

BARRY RUBIN: Educating Bashar
Syria is at war with Israel and, more recently, with the United States as well. But it expects to pay no price for the terrorism it sponsors against both countries. Given the peculiar logic of the Middle East, things usually work out that way for Damascus.

URIYA SHAVIT: Who is Bashar Assad?
One of the most common misconceptions about Syria's President Bashar Assad is that he has Western leanings and attitudes. The press always makes a big deal about him being British educated and having a British-born wife. As a result, whenever he makes a statement or commits an act that appears to conflict with this image, both the Western media and leaders express surprise or disappointment.

ARIEH O'SULLIVAN: How big a threat?
On paper, the Syrian military machine looks formidable: 380,000 men, 12 divisions, 3,700 tanks, 2,600 artillery pieces and nearly 500 aircraft. But on closer inspection, the Syrian army does not pose a significant tactical threat to Israel and has no viable tactical war option.

KHALED ABU TOAMEH: Islamic Jihad unfazed
Leaders of Islamic Jihad were smiling this week upon learning that Israel had attacked one of their "training bases" in Syria.

EDITORIAL: Israel and international law
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder wasted no time Sunday in condemning Israel's air strike on a training camp in Syria used by Islamic Jihad.