>Israel's most urgent question is whether to switch to a bolder, more proactive strategy vis-a-vis the Syrian war. So far, most Israeli support for moderate, local, non-Islamist rebel battalions along the border has been limited to humanitarian aid, such as treating 1,400 sick and wounded Syrians in Israeli hospitals, supplying medication, food, and heaters to villagers, and so forth.
>Some rebel groups maintain constant contact with the IDF, including frequent secret meetings reportedly held in Tiberias, but only a modest amount of weapons have been provided to them, mainly rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
businessinsider.com/its-not-too-late-to-empower-the-moderate-rebels-of-syria-2014-10
>The Lebanese news website Al-Akhbar, considered affiliated with Hezbollah, reported on Thursday that it has obtained documents showing that Israeli officials tried to coordinate the transfer of weapons to Syrian opposition forces.
>According to the report, the hackers managed to break into the computers of Israeli defense officials, acquiring files, transcripts, phone numbers, addresses and secret documents. The hackers also hacked the computer and tapped the phone of "the Druze official closest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," Mandi Safdi, a former parliamentary aide to MK Ayoub Kara (Likud).
>According to the report, the surveillance of Safdi, which lasted several months, exposed senior Lebanese and Syrian officials as cooperating with Israel.
>The obtained documents revealed an attempt by Safdi to recruit Lebanese and Syrian agents and to transfer arms to Syrian opposition groups, the report said. Contact between an Islamic State member and Israel was also revealed, according to the report.
>The documents also pointed out coordination between Syrian opposition elements and Lebanese groups and Israel in obtaining information about Hezbollah outposts and members.
haaretz.com/israel-news/1.665113
