Yitzhak Herzog
Yitzhak HerzogFlash 90

MK Yitzhak Herzog (Labor) says that Syrian opposition leaders have told him they want peace with Israel after Syrian President Bashar Assad falls.

Herzog, an alternate on Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee who has previously held ministerial posts, said the Syrian opposition wants to be "friends" with Israel.

He refused to name his sources because he said they fear retribution by Assad, but did say they are aligned with the main rebel factions.

Herzog said Israel should supply medical and humanitarian assistance to the rebels. He ruled out military aid.

Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara (Likud) – a Druze lawmaker with opposition contacts in Syria – has also said there is a desire for peace with Israel among the rebels.

The Syrian National Council has taken a circumspect stance on Israel – an incendiary topic in the Arab world – saying only that it would not "immediately restart hostilities" with the Jewish state.

It was also reported on Wednesday that some Syrian opposition factions have opened relations with Hizbullah in hopes of furthering their campaign to oust Assad.

Israel and Syria have been in a state of war dating back to Israel's 1948-1948 War of Independence.

Israel has fought several major wars with Syria, who under the Assad dynasty has backed anti-Israel terror groups.