from Mint Press News
It is not just isolated voices advocating for normalization; the new Syrian government and its backers appear determined to establish ties with Israel, even as Israel continues its occupation of Syrian territory and the bombardment of what remains of its infrastructure. While apologists attempt to justify Damascus’s Israel-friendly comments, the writing on the wall has long been clear.
The new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) backed Mayor of Damascus, Maher Marwan, stirred controversy last week when he called for normalization with Israel. Even though Damascus, the city he now governs, endures frequent Israeli airstrikes, Marwan defended his stance in an interview with NPR. “Our problem is not with Israel,” he stated, adding, “We don’t want to meddle in anything that will threaten Israel’s security.”
Following widespread public backlash, the HTS-led government in Damascus released a statement addressing Marwan’s remarks. The statement proclaimed that Marwan’s comments didn’t necessarily reflect the policies of the al-Jolani government, but it stopped short of explicitly denying his call for normalization with Israel.
The sentiments expressed by Marwan are consistent with those of Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Shara’a, known more commonly by his ISIS-associated moniker, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Al-Jolani once said that Syrian territory must not be used as a launching pad for conflict with Israel. He emphasized, “We do not want any conflict, whether with Israel or anyone else.”...
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