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Source: http://www.inss.org.il/index.aspx?id=4538&articleid=12171
Syria's New Map: Challenges and Opportunities for Israel
(Institute for National Security Studies) Udi Dekel, Nir Boms, and Ofir Winter - Southern Syria contains some "positive" actors, including a number of Sunni groups and the Druze and Kurdish minorities, which are currently emerging as candidates with the potential for cooperation with Israel. Israel should strive to translate its policy of non-intervention in the war in Syria into one of active promotion of relations and engagement with these more "positive" Syrian actors, as well as with regional and international actors with whom it shares similar interests. These actors wield influence in the current reality in Syria, and can be expected to play a significant role in the shaping and stabilizing of the country in any post-war reality. Israel should seek to establish a degree of influence in southern Syria and promote its own tactical and strategic interests in order to maintain calm in the Golan Heights and prevent "negative" actors from establishing themselves in the region.