i understand that the israelis are trying to pull the russians south, to give the turks easy passage into the north, and that biting is in some sense taking the bait.

but, as is so often the case in this region, it doesn't matter. the primary concern is not in keeping the turks out of the north, but in safeguarding the south. so, if the israelis want to pull the fighting south, the reaction should be to push it very far to the south - all the way to jerusalem.