Israel sends food, fuel to help Syria civilians

GOLAN HEIGHTS— Israel made public Wednesday the extent of its humanitarian aid to the civilian population living just across its northern border in Syria.

It’s well documented that Israel has provided emergency medical treatment to Syrian fighters seeking help. There have also been media reports that Israel has provided financial and other support to some of the rebel groups fighting the army of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

But on Wednesday, the Israeli army briefed journalists on a humanitarian operation it calls “Good Neighbors.”

As part of the effort, Israel has transferred 360 tons of food, 118,000 gallons of gasoline and 50 tons of clothing to Syria. It has also sent large quantities of painkillers, anesthetics and basic medicine for diabetes and asthma.

During a meeting Wednesday with eastern European leaders in Budapest, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heard saying that Israel had carried out dozens of attacks against arms convoys in Syria making their way to militant Lebanese group Hezbollah.

“We blocked the border not only in Egypt but in the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu told leaders from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. “We built the wall because there was a problem with (Islamic State) and Iran trying to build a terror front there. I told Putin, when we see them transferring weapons to Hezbollah, we will hurt them. We did it dozens of times.”

The meeting was being held behind closed doors, but Netanyahu’s remarks were accidentally transmitted to reporters covering the event, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.