Syrian Soldiers Fire at Israeli Troops; Netanyahu, Erdogan Explain Agreement

An Israeli army unit returned fire at a Syrian military position with an anti-tank missile on Sunday morning. Israel reported no injuries and there was no word on Syrian casualties. The incident has sparked concern that the situation will continue to escalate with the attack coming one day after another incident in which an Israeli army jeep was hit by gunfire from across the Syrian border. In recent weeks, Israel has treated a number of opposition members hurt in exchanges with the Syrian army on the Golan Heights. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and offered the apology for the May 2010 Mavi Marmara (Gaza flotilla) incident in which a number of Turkish nationals died fighting an Israeli landing party enforcing the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu explained via Facebook that the need for Israel to have the ability to communicate with other neighbors of Syria played a large role in his decision to concede to Erdogan’s demands. Erdogan, meanwhile, told the official Turkish news agency that Israel met all of his demands except a full re-opening of the Gaza Strip, but that, he said, is happening incrementally.