Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: YouTube screenshot.

JNS.org – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel opposes the ceasefire in southern Syria that came into effect July 9.

After initially cautiously welcoming the ceasefire, Netanyahu told reporters during his visit to France Sunday that the Syria deal brokered by the US and Russia perpetuates the presence of Iranian forces near Israel—a concern the prime minister has repeatedly voiced in recent months.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently agreed to implement the ceasefire on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany. The US and Russia had previously conducted backchannel talks with Israel on the issue of creating safe zones in southern Syria to shield the Jewish state from an Iranian-led Shi’a coalition developing on its northern border.

In recent weeks, there have been nearly 20 instances of errant fire from the Syrian Civil War hitting Israel’s Golan Heights.

The US and Russia will ensure Israel’s interests are taken into account during future talks on safe zones in southern Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.