16Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has informed the leaders of rebel forces in Syria that Israel is willing to assist them on condition no harm comes to members of the Druse community. The senior minister announced on Monday, 12 Tammuz that rebels along the border with Israel enjoy humanitarian assistance from Israel, but this is contingent on two things; protecting the Druse and keeping terrorists away from Israel’s border. Ya’alon that in the event of a repeat of the attack on the military ambulance along the border the situation may change. Ya’alon explained the attack triggered unrest on the other side along with calls for revenge.

Ya’alon feels the Druse who are present on ‘Har Drusim’ on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights border are not in real danger but he is seeking assurances nonetheless. He had words of praise for Israel’s Druse community and its leaders, as the latter did their utmost to call for calm and spoke out in no uncertain terms against breaking the law.

Ya’alon added that the Druse on the Syrian side of the border do not wish to appear that Israel backing them for this is not to their advantage. He adds the in the big picture, the area under rebel control remains safe for the Druse. There were isolated attack in recent years, but these are areas that remain under control of Assad’s forces.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)