Sources in the Israeli army have stated that there has been no ground invasion of the Gaza Strip because of fears over a summer war with Syria.According to Haaretz.com, highly-placed sources within the Israeli military fear the possibility of a coming war with Syria over the coming months, an event that, if the military was already engaged in Gaza, would stretch Israeli forces to breaking point.
Recent Syrian manoeuvres such as troop training and arms deal would seem to suggest that the country has not ruled out the possibility of a summer offensive against Israel, although many have been quick to suggest that such moves may be designed merely to push the Israeli administration to reopen peace negotiations.
Haaretz also reports that a war with Syria was the subject of a large military exercise last month.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967 and in a move not recognized internationally, unilaterally annexed the area in 1981. While Israel has agreed, in principle, to returning the territory to Syrian control, public opinion in Israel is opposed to such a move.
