Israel widens ties with Syrian rebels

An unprecedented meeting took place Thursday in Istanbul between an Israeli lawmaker and the leader of a Syrian rebel outfit, according to Times of Israel.

MK Yakov Margi (from Shas) met with Mohammed Adnan, head of the Association of Rebels in Syria, through the mediation of Mendi Safadi, the bureau chief of former Likud party minister Ayoob Kara.

The two even gave an interview to Turkish television.

During the meeting Margi expressed his 'regret that innocents are being harmed' in Syria’s war.

Adnan replied, saying the facts prove the Israeli people are no longer the enemy, but “rather a partner in our struggle against the common enemy.”

Safadi got himself into hot water in 2012 when he “presented himself as an official envoy of the State of Israel working on cooperation with the Syrian opposition” without official approval.

Safadi also acknowledged there was a series of meetings in the works to strengthen the ties between Israel and the Syrian 'people' (rebels).