Jewish News Syndicate quotes JINSA President & CEO Michael Makovsky on Trump’s Syria Pullout

(October 17, 2019 / JNS) The abrupt decision by U.S. President Donald Trump last week to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria has led to a major foreign-policy crisis in the region and worldwide.

Equally as important are the changing roles of Syria, Turkey, Russia, Iran and Israel in the immediate area. For the pro-Israel community, concern is escalating that the move will have major ramifications for Israel.

“President’s Trump’s greenlighting of Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria and withdrawal of U.S. forces from there was an unforced disaster, which betrayed our Kurdish allies, has led to ISIS fighters escaping prison and further undermines U.S. credibility,” JINSA president and CEO Michael Makovsky told JNS.

“The Kurds, who served as an obstacle to Iranian expansion, have naturally allied now with [Syrian President Bashar] Assad to help protect them, which serves Iran’s interests and undermines Israel’s,” he continued. “Israel now faces more pressure and threats from Iran.”

Turkey invaded northern Syria last week just days after Trump announced the U.S. military withdrawal, and after a phone call during which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan apparently informed the president that he was going ahead with a long-planned move against America’s Kurdish allies in the region. Almost immediately, the violence began as Turkish forces went full-throttle ahead with plans to secure Syrian territory.

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