We in Israel have gotten used to Syria. So much so that to many of us, a Syrian prison seems less dangerous than a meeting of the Knesset's coronavirus committee.
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Nevertheless, this is still a country where, every once in a while, people are beheaded. The detention of one woman for a few days in Syria offers a preview of the nervous breakdown we should expect from the public if, god forbid, an armed female soldier is taken prisoner by an enemy state or terrorist group. But hey, we're so progressive, we're willing to parachute any girl across enemy lines.
It's good the whole affair – the woman's entry into Syria, her capture, and release – ended as quickly as possible.
Israel is now involved in the provision of a large amount of coronavirus vaccine doses to Syria's citizens. The deal portrays Russia's President Vladimir Putin as someone who sorts things out. He is seen as generous with Israel, while the US president is seen as estranged and someone with whom you cannot coordinate positions on the Middle East.
When forced to play the part of the loser, the correct approach for Israel to take is to cut our losses and get out as quickly as possible.
Any such situation that is not quickly resolved could get complicated and lead to infighting in the Israeli public, as we saw with missing Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad and Gilad Shalit, the former IDF soldier held captive by Hamas.
We can present tough, principled positions, but beyond the suffering of the prisoner or captive, it is Israeli society that will suffer. Strategic advisers and those with political interests know how to ride these waves for their own personal gain. Although there has been criticism of the deal to free the woman who crossed the border into Syria, it is far preferable to an ongoing saga.
There have been reports of contacts between Jerusalem and Damascus of late, with at least one expert claiming the Syrians, like Israel, are looking to rid their country of Iranians. Was any of this reflected in the deal to release the Israeli woman?
Israel has already paid out rogue rulers who know a Jew is an asset to be used for blackmail. At least this time, the payout was not a personal gift to the dictator across the border but aid that benefits the general population.
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