Common to all the parties in the simulation was the desire to avoid being dragged into escalation. All the parties tried to contain the event and confine it to a short round of strikes. Among the restraining factors were the challenge posed by the Islamic State and the weakening of the Shiite axis in the region, Hizbollah’s involvement in Syria, and the dialogue between Tehran and Washington – on both the nuclear question and in dealing with the Islamic State, their common enemy. For Israel, one restraining factor was a significant interest in avoiding a conflict on the northern front – particularly due to concern that it would spread to the Palestinian theater at a time when Israel was facing a strong international political and diplomatic challenge.
