As the top priority for Israel veers from the Iranian nuclear installations to the future of Syria, the dramatic rise of Russia’s posture and the creation of a Russian-Iranian operational axis in that territory must command serious attention in Israel.

Efraim Halevy discusses the growing big power character of the conflict; Israeli concerns in that connection; and the curse of unintended consequences.

Halevy has been Israel’s ambassador to the European Union and head of Mossad and the Israeli National Security Council.