Israel on the Sidelines

Talks between the two countries could be a positive thing, [Michael Oren] replied, on one condition: Iran's capitulation. The Iranians must "stop enrichment of uranium," "ship out their stockpile," and then "shut down the nuclear facility underground. Let them do all that and then let them sit down and talk," he said. Oren appeared to let a big cat out of the bag when he told the Jerusalem Post that in Syria, Israel "always preferred the bad guys who weren't backed by Iran to the bad guys who were backed by Iran," even if the other "bad guys" were affiliated with al-Qaeda. Tel Aviv quickly rebuked its diplomat, with [Netanyahu]'s office declaring that Oren's comments do not represent the prime minister's position. "Israel's policy has not changed, and we are not intervening in internal Syrian affairs." According to Algemeiner.com, "Israeli officials have repeatedly said that the country has no interest in becoming involved in Syria's civil war, and Netanyahu has repeatedly instructed his Cabinet and others representing the government to remain silent on the issue."