Netanyahu voices hope for Syria ceasefire in Pompeo talks

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced hope Friday that a US-brokered ceasefire will hold between Turkey and Syria’s Kurds as he discussed the turbulent region with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo flew to Israel after he and US Vice President Mike Pence negotiated a deal that will see Turkey suspend its Syria offensive, but which drew criticism over what many viewed as an abandonment of Washington’s Kurdish allies.
“We hope things will turn out for the best,” Netanyahu told reporters without elaboration when asked about the deal.
Israelis have been watching Trump’s decisions on Syria closely, concerned that their country too could be abandoned by its most important ally.
Beyond that, Israel has longstanding concerns over whether arch-enemy Iran will move to fill any vacuum in neighbouring Syria, where Tehran has been supporting President Bashar al-Assad in an eight-year-old civil war.
Netanyahu, however, has been careful not to criticise President Donald Trump, a vocal friend as the veteran premier struggles to form a government.