Syrian Revolution

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Syria’s new de-facto leader, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has urged the United States to exert pressure on Israel to retreat from the buffer zone in Syria, including the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, according to a Friday report by Kan 11.

Despite Julani's reported request, Israeli authorities allegedly stated they had received no formal communication on the matter. A security official informed Kan News that Israel "will not compromise its security."

Earlier on Friday, NPR interviewed Maher Marwan, Damascus' new governor, who emphasized Syria’s desire for peace and its lack of hostility toward Israel or any other nation. Marwan speculated that Israel's actions in the buffer zone might be motivated by "natural caution."

“We harbor no fear of Israel and bear no animosity,” he remarked. “We have no plans to interfere with anything that could undermine Israel’s safety. Our people yearn for coexistence and peace.”

Reports last week suggested that President Joe Biden's administration is moving toward formally recognizing Syria's new government. A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the announcement could precede President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

Previously, the US had placed a $10 million bounty on Julani due to his leadership in al-Qaeda's Syrian branch. However, a recent American delegation visited Damascus and met with Julani. During their discussion, Julani pledged to stabilize Syria’s political and economic landscape and assured US officials that Christians would be free to observe Christmas without interference from his forces.

In a video published to social media this week, a representative of the new regime in Syria, led by Islamist rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, spoke with Bakhour Chamntoub, the head of the tiny Jewish community that remains in the country, promising “peace and security” and even calling on Syrian Jews abroad to return to Syria.

“Good evening everyone, from Damascus, from the home of the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, Bakhour. Reassure us that you’re alright,” Mohammad Badarieh, the representative of the new regime, said in the video.

“Thank God, all is well,” replied Chamntoub.

In a video published to social media this week, a representative of the new regime in Syria, led by Islamist rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, spoke with Bakhour Chamntoub, the head of the tiny Jewish community that remains in the country, promising “peace and security” and even calling on Syrian Jews abroad to return to Syria.

“Good evening everyone, from Damascus, from the home of the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, Bakhour. Reassure us that you’re alright,” Mohammad Badarieh, the representative of the new regime, said in the video.

“Thank God, all is well,” replied Chamntoub.

Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, has made efforts since the victory to shed his extremist image, and has pledged to protect minorities in the country.

Western governments have begun to gradually open channels with Sharaa and HTS, and are starting to debate whether to remove the group’s terrorist designation. Senior US diplomats who visited Damascus last month said Sharaa came across as pragmatic and that Washington has decided to remove a $10 million bounty on the HTS leader’s head.

In the clip circulating this week, Badarieh, Sharaa’s aide, told Chamntoub, “There’s no more Baath party, there’s no more fear,” referring to the Arab nationalist movement Assad led in Syria. “There’s no more checkpoints, no more secret police. We are in a democratic state,” he added. Chamntoub responded, “Thank God.”

Sharaa said in an interview last week that holding elections in Syria could take up to four years, the first time he had commented on a possible timetable for elections since Assad was ousted. He also said he hoped the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions on the country.

Syria was once home to one of the world’s largest and oldest Jewish communities. Following anti-Jewish riots and persecution in the wake of Israel’s establishment, however, almost all those Jews fled abroad when given the opportunity, and now only nine Jews live in Syria — almost all of whom are older men and women, according to Chamntoub, who is himself 74.

Referring to the many Jews of Syrian ancestry abroad, Chamntoub acknowledged that “They don’t believe there will be peace, and that they can return home.” But he echoed the promise of the new regime, saying, “You will be safe, there will be peace and quiet, and God willing, you’ll return, everyone to his house, to his neighborhood, and to his people, and everything.”

Badarieh then enthusiastically extended his invitation to “those from all the communities, among them the Jewish community, members of this dear community, members of the religion of Moses: everyone who returns, your house is here, God bless you all.”

At the end of last month, Chamntoub visited the ancient Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in the Damascus suburb of Jobar, which had been closed since the start of the civil war, and which was almost totally destroyed by fighting.

Speaking to Israel’s Kan news earlier this week, Chamntoub said that Badarieh pledged to support the restoration of the synagogue. “He said to me, ‘If you want to restore the Jobar synagogue, I’ll approve it. If you want me to provide you with security for the synagogue, I agree.”

Syrian media reported an Israeli airstrike near Aleppo late Thursday, the latest such attack since the overthrow of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad last month.

According to the Sham FM radio station, the strikes hit a defense facility and a scientific research center near the city of al-Safirah, close to Aleppo.

It was not clear whether the strikes caused any casualties.

A resident of the al-Safirah area told AFP on condition of anonymity: “They hit defense factories, five strikes… The strikes were very strong. It made the ground shake, doors and windows opened — the strongest strikes I ever heard… It turned the night into day.”

If whoever currently leads Syria wants to avoid conflict with Israel, they should talk with Israeli leadership not US leadership. Or else they'll just have to get used to being bombed and having parts of their territory occupied, or dying in battle resisting those things.