Iran desk at Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs (ASSAD) worst devil we know then the devils we don't...  http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-needs-a-year-and-a-half-to-produce-the-bomb/
Sima Shine, who heads the Iran desk at Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs, told the Times of Israel on the sidelines of the Israeli Presidential Conference.: In my personal opinion, the devil we know is worse than the devil we don’t. Israel’s main strategic threat is Iran. Not Syria, not Hamas. Therefore, strategically, Israel should examine things from the perspective of what harms Iran and what serves Israel’s agenda in confronting it. If Bashar remains in power, that would be a huge achievement for Iran. A weakened Assad would be completely dependent on Iran. In my opinion that’s the worst thing that can happen to Israel.She says:Bashar Assad must not remain in power. Period. What will happen later? God only knows. The alternative, whereby Jihadis flock to Syria, is not good. We have no good options in Syria. But Assad remaining along with the Iranians is worse. His ouster would exert immense pressure on Iran.Shine said she hoped the Syrian rebels were being assisted, though was cautious in admitting Israel was indeed providing any such aid. She said: I hope Israel is doing more than I know of. Israel would not publicly admit assisting the rebels for fear of harming their domestic posture. That would be bad for the rebels themselves. They do not want to be perceived as being supported by Israel which, as the occupier of the Golan Heights, is the enemy.