SYRIAN OPPOSITION READY TO ATTACK ISRAEL WITH CHEM. WEAPONS

         Damascus, 4 Dhul Qaidah 1434/10 September 2013 (MINA) – Syrian opposition militants are prepared to attack the Israeli regime with chemical weapons, Russia Today reports.

        The report comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed that Syria puts its chemical weapons arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction in order to prevent a possible military strike against the war-torn country.

        In another side, Israeli occupation set up an Iron Dome missile defense system to the west of occupied Jerusalem, Sunday.

        Last month, a battery of the mobile system was deployed in the (Tel Aviv) area, pointing towards Syria, according to Alray, Palestinian media agency report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

        Meanwhile, the inner government forum known as the Diplomacy-Security Cabinet was convened Sunday afternoon to discuss the Syria situation.

        Speaking at a meeting earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu described (Israel) “an island of tranquility, quiet and security” amidst “the storm raging around us,” without explicitly mentioning Syria or its ally, Iran.

         Meanwhile Israeli Newspaper Haaretz, Israeli Official: U.S. Would Notify Us ‘Hours’ Ahead Of An Attack; Defense Minister Ya’alon: Israel Is Ready To Deal With Consequences Of U.S. Strike.

        The Israeli army has set up an Iron Dome anti-rocket battery in the Jerusalem area Sunday, as part of its preparations for a possible American-led strike in Syria. Meanwhile, an Israeli official said Sunday that the U.S. would notify Israel hours in advance of a strike on Syria, and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said that whatever the U.S. decided to do would affect Israel.

        This is the first time an active missile defense system has been deployed in the Jerusalem area. The battery joins three additional Iron Dome systems recently deployed in Gush Dan, near Tel Aviv, and in northern Israel, near Haifa and in the Galilee. The Israel Defense Forces was reportedly also considering deploying another battery in northern Israel.

        The chances of Israel being attacked are low, a high-ranking IDF officer said last Wednesday. However, he said, Israel’s defense systems have been prepared for the eventuality that a western attack on Syria could make Israel a target of rocket fire.

        “Even though the likelihood of such a scenario is low, we have a clear responsibility to prepare for any scenario in order to protect our citizens,” he said. (T/P01/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)