DAILY SCOPE: Wikileaks Expose ’Israeli’ Cooperation with Syrian Opposition

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

AS-SAFIR

Salam Refuses Abdication, Berri and Jumblatt Support Settlement

AN-NAHAR

Decisive effect of Aounist Street protest aftermath

AL-AKHBAR

"Israel" Leaks: Documents on "Israeli" Liaison Officer Relations with Syrian Opposition

AL-BINAA

Putin Meets Rouhani, Russian Mediation between Iran, KSA

Among the many topics covered by Lebanese newspapers on Thursday are the Wikileaks documents that were obtained by hackers, revealing further cooperation between "Israeli" officers and so-called Syrian opposition figures. Also, the cabinet issue in Lebanon is a hot discussion, as the Free Patriotic Movement prepares to rally in defense of the rights of the Christians in Lebanon amid assurances from the Premier that no such measures are required.

Wikileaks Expose "Israeli" Cooperation with Syrian opposition --- AL-AKHBAR

Al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday cited Wikileaks documents that said "Israeli" officials attempted to transfer weapons to the so-called moderate opposition forces in Syria. The paper noted that hackers were able to access documents and transcripts from computers of the "Israeli" war ministry officials, as well as the computer and phone of the "Druze official closest to ‘Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," a former parliamentary aide to a Likud Knesset member named Mandi Safdi.

Safdi was reportedly monitored for several months, which exposed connections between "Israel" and senior Lebanese and Syrian officials. Safdi also, according to the leaks attempted to recruit Lebanese and Syrian agents.
Reports by UN observers in the Golan in 2014, submitted to 15 members of Security Council detail regular contact between IDF officers and armed Syrian opposition figures at the border.

According to a report on December 3, 2013, a person wounded on September 15 "was taken by armed members of the opposition across the ceasefire line, wherefrom he was transferred to a civilian ambulance escorted by an IDF vehicle." Moreover, from November 9 to 19 the "UNDOF observed at least 10 wounded persons being transferred by armed members of the opposition from the Bravo side across the ceasefire line to IDF."

Further reports indicated similar incidents. However, cooperation between the IDF and Syrian rebels that was revealed in UN observer reports does not just include transferring the wounded. Observers remarked in the report distributed on June 10 that they identified IDF soldiers on the "Israeli" side handing over boxes that had arms to armed Syrian opposition members on the Syrian side.

Salam: Cabinet Role to Manage Country--- AS-SAFIR

Lebanon's PM Tamam Salam told As-Safir on Thursday "Today's cabinet session will be held as scheduled," adding that "the cabinet's main role is to manage the country, not a political crisis and therefore it is not a suitable place to resolve disputes."

"I cannot accept that the cabinet's role be crippled when it comes to tackling issues of state and the people," Salam declared.

"I believe that political problems should be resolved by local factions outside of cabinet. The dialogue between the Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah and the dialogue between the Free Patriotic Movement and Lebanese Forces are examples of what can be achieved to that end," he explained.

He defended his approach of "seeking consensus while avoiding paralysis," adding: "It is unacceptable for some sides to cripple it."

Asked about Aoun's accusations that he has "usurped the role of the president," Salam responded: "My actions and positions indicate the contrary," adding "I am barely preserving my privileges as Prime Minister."

On whether he is worried about the street protests, he commented: "Peaceful and civilized street action is legitimate in principle, but the situation Lebanon and the region are passing through make us wary of such an option."

Free Patriotic Movement [FPM] supporters kicked off on Wednesday roaming convoys in preparation for demonstrations scheduled for Thursday in protest against what Aoun said was the ‘violation of the rights of Christians'.

"Our protests are peaceful and are part of preparing for the movements demanding the restoration of the rights of Christians," said Hisham Kanj an FPM official.

Aoun has called on his supporters to prepare for rallies to regain "Christians' rights." He is waiting for the outcome of Thursday's cabinet session to give the green light for street mobility and his supporters began preparing to stage anti-government rallies after the cabinet failed to discuss the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

New President for Lebanon?! --- AN-NAHAR

The Lebanese Cabinet convened on Thursday morning to tackle its mechanism as supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement are scheduled to take to the streets to demand "the restoration of Christian rights".

Ministerial sources told An-Nahar daily on Thursday that the ministers will discuss the mechanism of the cabinet. Numerous urgent decrees are also waiting to be signed, such as military promotions and approving an extraordinary parliament session, added the sources.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper meanwhile reported that Salam had held ahead of the session a series of consultations with all members of cabinet "without exception".

"The cabinet must be able to resume its functioning in order for matters to return to normal in Lebanon," his sources told the daily.

Informed sources said that the premier will kick off the cabinet session by stressing the need to elect a new president "to organize ties between constitutional institutions and avoid more crises in Lebanon."

Source: Al-Ahed News, Edited by webiste team