Israeli Newspaper: Israel's $40 Million Budget for 'Good Neighborliness' with Syria

An Israeli newspaper has reported that the country allocated about $32 million in Syria this year for 'good neighborliness', along with millions of dollars for free treatment of 'injured' individuals from the Syrian wars. Haaretz wrote on Thursday, September 9, that this newspaper 'for the first time' accessed the mentioned information and figures under the Freedom of Information Act. According to the report, Israel spent 115 million 'shekels' in 2017 for activities aimed at 'good neighborliness' in Syria. Haaretz noted that 20 million 'shekels' of this amount was allocated by the Israeli army to establish the 'Good Neighborliness' mechanism and to set up its headquarters, while the remaining 95 million 'shekels' came from donations to Israel. The 'Good Neighborliness Headquarters' has been established since mid-summer 2016 as part of the 'project to assist citizens across the border', headed by an Israeli army colonel, with three other officers working there permanently. According to Haaretz, as part of this assistance, medical and pharmaceutical shipments, as well as clothing and food, are transferred across the border. Haaretz reporters who visited the Syrian border in recent days reported that dozens of tons of these aids are sent to Syria monthly, but the transfer occurs almost every night. The report mentions that among those funding these aids is a Syrian businessman residing in Chicago, but the 'Shimon Peres Peace Center' and the 'Genocide Prevention Association' also contribute to the aid. Israeli media have reported that during the years of the Syrian civil war, the country has treated at least three thousand 'injured' individuals with an annual budget of tens of millions of 'shekels'. This aid has also faced criticism in Israel, but Haaretz quoted army commanders stating that this action is in line with securing Israel's security interests and keeps sabotage activities away from the borders. Previously, on April 9 of this year, the Israeli cabinet decided to provide medical treatment for Syrian children injured in recent attacks in the country. In past years, Israel has also transferred and treated several injured individuals from the Syrian civil war who reached its borders on foot and requested help. Some Syrian disabled individuals are still hospitalized in northern Israeli hospitals, which Israeli media occasionally interview. Two years ago, some Druze Arabs from the Golan region attacked Israeli ambulances carrying injured Syrians on their way to hospitals in Israel, killing one of the injured. Israel has declared 'neutrality' in the Syrian civil war but states that it will not tolerate the transfer of advanced weapons through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Concurrently, David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Tel Aviv, stated that his country and Israel share a consensus on the need to 'stop Iran in Syria' and that the U.S. supports Israel's objectives. Mr. Friedman, in an interview with the Jerusalem Post on Thursday, September 9, said that the U.S. agrees that Iran should not fill the void left by ISIS forces being expelled from Syria. According to the U.S. ambassador in Israel, Washington has been receptive to Israel's concerns regarding Iran's presence in Syria; information that Yossi Cohen, head of Mossad, conveyed to U.S. officials during a trip to Washington two weeks ago. The Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with what he calls the 'growing Iranian presence in Syria', stating, 'ISIS is leaving the region, but Iran is taking its place.' Benjamin Netanyahu expressed this position last Wednesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to that country, implicitly threatening military action. Mr. Netanyahu also reiterated this position on Monday this week during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who visited Israel. Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, also stated on Monday during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Jerusalem that Israel will not remain passive regarding Iran's presence in Syria and Lebanon. This comes as the latest assessment from Israeli military sources published in the country's media indicates that Bashar al-Assad's government, an ally of Iran, is strengthening in 2018, and the army loyal to Mr. Assad can regain more territories in the country. According to this Israeli assessment, the strengthening of Bashar al-Assad's government is partly due to the U.S. government's policy, which has reduced or halted aid to moderate Syrian opposition and Kurds, while internal U.S. issues and the North Korean crisis have diminished the attention of Donald Trump's administration to Syria.