Syria’s new leaders call for cordial ties with a resistant Israel : NPR

DAMASCUS, Syria — The newly appointed governor of Damascus has referred to as on america to make use of its affect to push for cordial relations with Israel.

In a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Governor Maher Marwan, 42, stated that Syria’s new authorities didn’t need to search battle with Israel, which has been putting strategic navy installations in Syria because the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad fell earlier this month.

“We now have no worry in the direction of Israel and our drawback shouldn’t be with Israel,” Marwan stated. “We do not need to meddle in something that may threaten Israel’s safety or another nation’s safety.”

Sitting in an enormous workplace in central Damascus, furnished with Syrian arabesque wood chairs and colorfully painted partitions, Marwan, carrying a go well with and tie, greeted the NPR staff. He solely shook palms with the male members of the group.

The governor stated it was comprehensible that Israel was involved when the brand new Syrian authorities took energy, due to sure “factions.”

“Israel might have felt worry at first,” Marwan stated. “So it superior slightly, bombed slightly.”

Along with Israel’s strikes on navy installations, it additionally has seized elements of the Golan Heights, stoking fears in Syria of annexation.

And but Marwan referred to as Israel’s worry “pure.”

Israel and Syria have by no means had diplomatic ties. They share a border however have been in a state of battle since Israel’s founding in 1948. The 2 nations have fought a number of wars over the many years, and journey between them has been forbidden.

A cautious response from Israel

“That is excellent news … very, very exceptional,” Uzi Rabi, a senior researcher on the Moshe Dayan Middle for Center Japanese and African Research at Tel Aviv College in Israel, stated of Marwan’s remarks to NPR.

Rabi stated the overture is noteworthy contemplating Syria’s historic opposition to Israel’s existence, and displays the pragmatism of Syria’s new management: it should rehabilitate the nation and can’t afford a battle with Israel.

Marwan stated his views represented these of town of Damascus, and the political beliefs of his boss – Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa – and the overseas ministry.

Sharaa – the chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the offensive that toppled the Assad regime on Dec. 8 – has beforehand stated that he doesn’t need battle with Israel.

HTS is a chosen terrorist group by america and has roots in al-Qaida, although the group broke away years in the past.

A U.S. delegation met with Sharaa in Damascus final week and introduced {that a} $10 million bounty can be lifted off the Syrian chief’s head.

Marwan referred to as on Washington to share HTS’ message with Israel.

“There exists a individuals who need peace and never disputes,” Marwan stated.

A U.S. official who was not approved to talk publicly in regards to the matter advised NPR that the U.S. relayed HTS’ message, however that Washington has not urged both nation in any route.

In a press release to NPR, Israel’s response was unequivocal.

“Israel is taking measures to make sure that the safety of its residents is maintained,” the assertion from the Overseas Ministry stated. “We advise the worldwide group to do not forget that Syria’s new ruling energy seized giant elements of Syria by drive. It was not democratically elected. It has long-standing historic ties toal-Qaida. That is an extremist Islamist regime that merely moved from Idlib to Damascus.”

The assertion added: “The USA has not pressured Israel to behave in another way.”

Rabi stated Israel’s cautious response displays a “lack of confidence” within the viability of peace after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. However he predicted Israel would possibly interact in dialogue with the brand new Syrian management by way of confidence-building measures within the coming months, resulting in “semi-normalization” of relations by way of safety cooperation alongside the border.

 ”You might appear to be a idiot if you will say, ‘Hey, all the things is okay. Peace is on the desk. Let’s go for it,'” Rabi stated. “Time will inform, however that is simply sort of a sign of how issues are being modified within the Center East for the nice.”

A message to People

Marwan stated his important message to the individuals of america is one among peace.

“As a Syrian individuals, we’re peaceable,” he stated. “We’re not warmongering traditionally.”

Marwan blamed the Assad regime for creating what he referred to as “gaps” between the U.S. administration and the Syrian individuals.

“These gaps have to be crammed in order that the 2 individuals could be associates and we will accomplish issues which might be helpful to each nations,” he stated.

Marwan stated the area ought to study from previous U.S. expertise of battle in locations like Afghanistan and Iraq, saying it “does not work.”

“Conflict begets battle, battle begets hate, battle begets evil, battle begets destruction,” he stated.

He emphasised that he wished the American individuals to know that there isn’t any “animosity” between the 2 nations.

“America is a grand nation, and is on the helm of all nations, for which we’ve got nice respect and appreciation for, and has experience that we need to reap the benefits of,” he stated.

Marwan stated that america and Syria wanted one another.

“Any illogical political or navy battle will rob us of all mutual advantages,” he stated.

“We solely maintain respect and appreciation” for the U.S., he stated.

Governor as activist

Marwan hails from an elite Damascus household and grew up in a rich neighborhood within the capital. He stated he fled to Idlib in 2011 after being harassed by Assad’s safety forces for participating in protests that erupted throughout Syria as a part of the Arab Spring uprisings throughout the Center East. Assad’s violent clampdown on the peaceable protests triggered Syria’s 13-year civil battle.

Marwan graduated with a level in Islamic legislation from Idlib College and spent a decade working in administration at numerous companies. There he stated he felt “burning” to vary Syria.

“We wished to free Syria from the safety iron fist in opposition to the Syrian individuals,” he stated. “Safety needs to be felt amongst all individuals, to not really feel worry.”

Marwan stated that the outdated regime raised a wall between it and its individuals.

“We used to say, ‘We really feel worry from Syria’ — now we are saying, ‘We worry for Syria,'” he stated.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Marwan stated he was drawn to HTS as a result of they have been “organized, had a plan, and an idea to avoid wasting Syrians.”

He referred to as HTS a undertaking with out precedent. With time, he argued, the group developed the maturity to distinguish between who was an enemy and a pal, and what wanted to be performed to construct a rustic.

Marwan stated he had by no means personally joined al-Qaida and was happy when HTS lower ties with the terrorist group.

“Al-Qaida does not symbolize the Syrian individuals or its aspirations,” he stated.

The largest challenges forward

The primary problem for the federal government now that the Assad regime is gone is constructing belief between the individuals and their governmental establishments, Marwan stated.

“Individuals have an outdated view that establishments are helpful for the regime and never for them,” he stated.

Considered one of his massive challenges, he stated, is to struggle corruption. Most civil servants earned a non-living wage, he stated, forcing them to rely upon facet incomes from bribes and items.

“To alter this, you should elevate the standard of life, by rising wages, offering employment alternatives, enhancing investments and attracting buyers,” he stated.

Marwan stated Syria additionally faces a frightening geopolitical problem. For this, he blames the Assad regime.

“The earlier regime exploited our vital geographical location to learn different nations, like Iran, and Hezbollah’s militias,” he stated.

This generated an enormous skilled hole for Syrians, Marwan stated. Among the many 550 workers on the governor’s workplace, he stated, solely two knew the best way to use a laptop computer.

Harnessing the facility of those that have been a part of the previous regime is important for the steadiness of the area, he argued, and needs to be supported by the worldwide group, particularly america.

Extra reporting by Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv.