Israeli analyst confirms link between Israel, “moderate” Syrian rebels

[shaayecanaan]

Source: Al-Akhbar English

Commentators have questioned why al-Nusra front or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have not targeted Israel in their attacks.

ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who leads the militant group’s self-proclaimed caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, spoke in July about the terror inflicted on Palestine, but he did so only in passing, in the wider context of the terror Muslims face around the world.

In June, ISIS responded to questions about why it wasn’t fighting Israel instead of killing people in Iraq and Syria.

“We haven’t given orders to kill the Israelis and the Jews,” the organization said on Twitter. “The war against the nearer enemy, those who rebel against the faith, is more important. Allah commands us in the Qur’an to fight the hypocrites, because they are much more dangerous than those who are fundamentally heretics.

Read more: http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/22065

[seveneyes]

1. Israel would hand ISIL their asses

ISIL is stupid, but not that stupid.

[Enrique]

26. if it's so easy for Israel to destroy ISIS

then why aren't they doing it for us, their closest ally?

[LiberalArkie]

2. Uh Huh... The Mossad at work

There is a photo that is about 10 years old of Palestinian protestors with RPG's marching and 2 of the guys shirts opened up a little too much and they had star of David on their necklaces. I always wondered.

[DavidDvorkin]

8. Yeah, right

As if they'd be wearing that beneath their shirts. Any such picture was obviously Photoshopped or otherwise fake.

[Rhinodawg]

20. Yup...those evil mossad.

Its good you have your finger on whats going on in the world.

[PCIntern]

21. I mean, does it ever stop?

You know, I think it drives some people crazy that there are strong, take-no-bullshit Jews out there. We are just supposed to walk quietly into the camps, right?

[Rhinodawg]

22. Some people like it better when jews were sheep.

since its not pc to hate jews, people make up shit to make themselves feel good.

[PCIntern]

23. I remember after the 67 War,

there were many who were aghast that the Jews would have the temerity to actually fight the Pan-Arabists. By and large, their POV didn't make it into what we now call the MSM. But they were there…and they still are.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. One needs to read the whole article. A tacit truce between Israel and Al Nusra. How convenient.

[pampango]

15. "Tacit truces" seem to exist on all sides, as long as it is convenient. Assad and ISIS had one until

the later decided to break it.

I suppose it makes sense that Assad viewed ISIS as less of a threat to his rule since the world views them as more repressive than him. And for a while ISIS was concentrated on fighting other opposition groups rather than his army so there was something in it for both of them.

Israel apparently views al Nusra and other factions of the Syrian opposition as less of a threat than ISIS. It is intriguing how governments in the region pick "allies" then shift their "alliances" depending on how the fight is going and who is the "enemy of my enemy" at the moment.

[still_one]

4. and why should I believe Al-Akhbar which is a newspaper which supports resistance against Israel?

I would want to see a more unbiased source before I would consider its validity

Incidently, the newspaper is pro-Assad

[shaayecanaan]

10. Why would you believe Western newspapers that supported the invasion of Iraq?

I wouldn't recommend accepting any source uncritically. Personally, I recommend reading sources from various points of view, it helps in filtering out the 95% that isn't true.

[still_one]

12. this paper supports Assad, and I question it. this is posted as LBN

And until the story is confirmed, I remain skeptical

Western news is not the subject of this thread

I question the reliability of this particular newspaper

[shaayecanaan]

13. Well, in that case, you need only click on the story referenced within the article

and it takes you through to the original WINEP/AIPAC article posted on Business Insider:-

"Israel Is Cautiously Arming Syria's Rebels — And Has A Fragile Unspoken Truce With An Al Qaeda Affiliate"

Read more: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/tough-dilemma-in-southern-syria#When:20:35:21Z#ixzz3GUmdJKJP

So there you go, a story with impeccably white Western credentials. You can now go to bed and sleep the quiet sleep of the saved.

[aquart]

17. ME politics is not for babies or the faint of heart.

Israel has, over the years, also been involved in training Kurdish fighters.

They want to stay alive so, like everyone else in the region, they constantly re-evaluate the situation.

Be damned dumb if they didn't.

[oberliner]

5. Source: Al-Akhbar English

This is a news source based in Lebanon. Lebanon has a very particular relationship with Syria. Reporters without Borders notes that Lebanon is a place "where the media serve as the propaganda outlets of businessmen and politicians".

http://rsf.org/index2014/en-middle-east.php

[still_one]

7. It is also a pro Assad paper

[shaayecanaan]

14. You're big on repetition aren't you? (nt)

[still_one]

16. am I responding to you?

[shaayecanaan]

24. Clearly (nt)

[still_one]

25. lol, you got me

[Comrade Grumpy]

18. That's an unintentional hoot!

Lebanon certainly isn't the only place "where the media serve as the propaganda outlets of businessmen and politicians."

Wait, did you say something? I couldn't hear you over the din of CNBC, MSNBC, GE-NBC, CNN, Fox, Fox Business, the Wall Street Journal, and all the rest.

[cheapdate]

6. Everybody and everything in the middle east is linked

to everybody and everything else in the middle east. Pull any thread and it brings up a hopeless tangle.

[freshwest]

11. +1

[EX500rider]

9. "Israeli Satellites Guide Arab Warplanes Over Iraq"

It was recently revealed that Israel had quietly and anonymously contributed some vital targeting information for the air campaign against ISIL in Iraq (and possibly Syria as well). It wasn't that the U.S. doesn't have spy satellites that could have provided this, but the Israeli fleet of spy satellites does not have worldwide responsibilities and spend most of their time over Middle Eastern nations and have been doing so for a long time. Thus the Israelis had satellite data right now that it would take weeks, months or longer for American satellites to compile. The Israeli contribution were kept quiet and Israeli data had been “scrubbed” to remove any evidence that it was from Israel. But none of the Arab nations contributing warplanes to the operation were surprised and, except for Iran (which openly insists ISIL is an invention of the Americans, British and Israel) no one complained.

Israel admits to having seven reconnaissance satellites in orbit (Ofek 5, 7, 9 and 10 military photo satellites, a radar satellite and two commercial photo satellites). The oldest of these is the Ofek 5, which has been in service since 2002. The latest launch was in April 2014 when the 400 kg (880 pound) Ofek 10, went up. It used the same Shavit 2 type launcher that sent the similar Ofek 9 into orbit in 2010. Ofek 9 had sensors able to see objects as small as 55 cm/twenty inches and the Ofek 10 sensors are believed to be even more precise.

http://strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20141017.aspx

[daleo]

19. How does a satellite spend most of its time over the middle east

Unless it is in geosynchronous orbit? And if spy satellites were at 40,000 km, the resolution would be compromised, as far as visual spying is concerned, I would think.

That being said, I suppose a fleet of seven low Earth satellies could be arranged so that at least on was over the Middle East at any given time.