In an article published in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak deemed that the failure to address the Syrian crisis carries three main risks to all who have an interest in preserving peace and stability in the Middle East.

"First, the fires of tribal and sectarian blood-feuds are not easily doused in our region. The longer this conflict goes on, the greater the chances that a post-Assad Syria will end up a Somalia - a failed state of constantly warring factions."

"Second, the more often chemical weapons are used, even on a small scale, the greater the chances that they will be employed en masse. So too, with each passing day, the prospects grow that these weapons will fall into terrorist hands. Israel is acutely aware of this danger and is committed to doing whatever is necessary to prevent Hizbollah from obtaining Syria's lethal arsenal."

"Third, the Syrian crisis, dangerous as it is, detracts leaders from effectively tackling a problem whose risks are far more acute - a nuclear-armed Iran."

Noting that Assad's armed forces are weak and debilitated by infighting, and that his air force and air defence systems could be destroyed in a relatively short time by powers both inside and outside the region, Barak said it "won't necessarily end the fighting or secure the chemical weapons."

"The other alternatives - a US, Nato or Turkish imposed "no fly zone", the establishment of a safe corridor for refugees, and US or Israeli strikes against the chemical weapons facilities - are also not without significant risks," he said.

However, Barak considered that the best chance for a successful resolution of the Syrian crisis is a diplomatic initiative led by Russia.

"The Kremlin has at its disposal the necessary leverage to convince Assad to leave, or at least to stop the fighting. The Russians, for whom the naval bases in Tartous and Latakia have strategic importance, have invested a lot of political capital, financial resources and prestige in the Assad dynasty over the past four decades. They trained and equipped the Syrian army; they provided it with intelligence gathering capabilities. And they are on first-name terms with the Syrian generals who command the chemical weapons units."

Barak described the Russian readiness to provide Assad with improved radars for the Yakhont surface-to-sea missile systems as 'deeply concerning'.

"Even more worrying is their intention to supply the Syrians with the S300 anti-aircraft system, which could alter the delicate balance of weapon systems in the region", he added.

"But despite this support, the Russian leadership, shrewd as ever, well understands that the Assad regime is ultimately doomed, even if the Kremlin prefers not to say so publicly. Nor does Russia want to see Islamic fundamentalists ruling Syria or endless civil war in a failed state. Russia has every reason to be a leading partner in a post-Assad Syria and to protect its strategic interests there," he noted.

"There will definitely be a price to be paid for Russia's readiness to lead. Missile defence in Europe could be raised, as well as issues related to the "near abroad" (Ukraine, Belarus and the likes), the Caucasus power balance, possibly even some energy and trade concerns. But all these should not deter us from entering into this dialogue. They are all legitimate interests of Russia. The international diplomatic arena, though, is a Gestalt where everything is dependent on everything else. And the cards held by the US, Europe and other players make the West's hand as strong, if not stronger, than the Russian one," he explained.

Barak said he believes that with the right approach, President Putin will act responsibly again, and that a successful Russian-led effort in Syria could help transform its attitude towards constructive cooperation in other sour international theatres.

"Given the high costs of allowing the carnage in Syria to continue and the high risks entailed in alternative courses of action, we should not abandon the effort. The key to Syria still lies in Moscow, and there is no time to wait," he concluded.