“Our downside isn’t with Israel,” Governor of Damascus Maher Marwan, appointed via the brand new management in Syria, tells NPR. “We do not need to meddle in anything else that can threaten Israel’s safety or some other nation’s safety.”
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Emin Sansar/Anadolu by means of Getty Pictures
DAMASCUS, Syria — The newly appointed governor of Damascus has referred to as on america to make use of its affect to push for cordial family members with Israel. In a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Governor Maher Marwan, 42, stated that Syria’s new executive didn’t need to search battle with Israel, which has been hanging strategic army installations in Syria because the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad fell previous this month. “We don’t have any worry against Israel and our downside isn’t with Israel,” Marwan stated. “We do not need to meddle in anything else that can threaten Israel’s safety or some other nation’s safety.”
Sitting in a large place of business in central Damascus, furnished with Syrian arabesque picket chairs and colorfully painted partitions, Marwan, dressed in a go well with and tie, greeted the NPR crew. He most effective shook arms with the male contributors of the crowd. The governor stated it was once comprehensible that Israel was once involved when the brand new Syrian executive took energy, on account of sure “factions.” “Israel could have felt worry in the beginning,” Marwan stated. “So it complex a bit, bombed a bit.” Along with Israel’s moves on army installations, it additionally has seized portions of the Golan Heights, stoking fears in Syria of annexation. And but Marwan referred to as Israel’s worry “herbal.” Israel and Syria have by no means had diplomatic ties. They percentage a border however were in a state of battle since Israel’s founding in 1948. The 2 international locations have fought a number of wars over the many years, and go back and forth between them has been forbidden. A wary reaction from Israel “This is excellent news … very, very exceptional,” Uzi Rabi, a senior researcher on the Moshe Dayan Heart for Heart Jap and African Research at Tel Aviv College in Israel, stated of Marwan’s remarks to NPR. Rabi stated the overture is noteworthy taking into account Syria’s historical opposition to Israel’s lifestyles, and displays the pragmatism of Syria’s new management: it will have to rehabilitate the rustic and can not have enough money a battle with Israel.
Marwan stated his perspectives represented the ones of town of Damascus, and the affairs of state of his boss – Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa – and the international ministry. Sharaa – the chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the offensive that toppled the Assad regime on Dec. 8 – has prior to now stated that he does no longer need battle with Israel. HTS is a delegated 15 may organization via america and has roots in al-Qaida, although the crowd broke away years in the past.
Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with an Iraqi legitimate in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 26. Sharaa has stated he does no longer need battle with Israel.
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Izettin Kasim/Anadolu by means of Getty Pictures
A U.S. delegation met with Sharaa in Damascus closing week and introduced {that a} $10 million bounty can be lifted off the Syrian chief’s head. Marwan referred to as on Washington to percentage HTS’ message with Israel. “There exists a individuals who need peace and no longer disputes,” Marwan stated. A U.S. legitimate who was once no longer licensed to talk publicly in regards to the topic advised NPR that the U.S. relayed HTS’ message, however that Washington has no longer steered both nation in any course. In a remark to NPR, Israel’s reaction was once unequivocal. “Israel is taking measures to make sure that the safety of its electorate is maintained,” the remark from the Overseas Ministry stated. “We suggest the global neighborhood to keep in mind that Syria’s new ruling energy seized huge portions of Syria via drive. It was once no longer democratically elected. It has long-standing ancient ties toal-Qaida. That is an extremist Islamist regime that merely moved from Idlib to Damascus.” The remark added: “America has no longer burdened Israel to behave in a different way.” Rabi stated Israel’s wary reaction displays a “lack of self assurance” within the viability of peace after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. However he predicted Israel would possibly have interaction in discussion with the brand new Syrian management thru confidence-building measures within the coming months, resulting in “semi-normalization” of family members thru safety cooperation alongside the border.
”It’s good to appear to be a idiot if you will say, ‘Hi there, the entirety is ok. Peace is at the desk. Let’s opt for it,'” Rabi stated. “Time will inform, however that is simply more or less a sign of the way issues are being modified within the Heart East for the great.” A message to American citizens Marwan stated his primary message to the folk of america is one in all peace. “As a Syrian other folks, we’re non violent,” he stated. “We don’t seem to be warmongering traditionally.” Marwan blamed the Assad regime for growing what he referred to as “gaps” between the U.S. management and the Syrian other folks. “Those gaps wish to be crammed in order that the 2 other folks will also be buddies and we will be able to accomplish issues which can be recommended to each international locations,” he stated. Marwan stated the area must be informed from previous U.S. revel in of battle in puts like Afghanistan and Iraq, pronouncing it “does not paintings.” “Warfare begets battle, battle begets hate, battle begets evil, battle begets destruction,” he stated. He emphasised that he sought after the American other folks to grasp that there is not any “animosity” between the 2 nations. “The US is a grand country, and is on the helm of all international locations, for which we now have nice appreciate and appreciation for, and has experience that we need to profit from,” he stated. Marwan stated that america and Syria wanted each and every different. “Any illogical political or army battle will rob us of all mutual advantages,” he stated. “We most effective hang appreciate and appreciation” for the U.S., he stated. Governor as activist Marwan hails from an elite Damascus circle of relatives and grew up in a rich group within the capital. He stated he fled to Idlib in 2011 after being pressured via Assad’s safety forces for participating in protests that erupted throughout Syria as a part of the Arab Spring uprisings around the Heart East. Assad’s violent clampdown at the non violent protests caused Syria’s 13-year civil battle.
Marwan graduated with a point in Islamic regulation from Idlib College and spent a decade running in control at quite a lot of companies. There he stated he felt “burning” to switch Syria. “We needed to loose Syria from the safety iron fist towards the Syrian other folks,” he stated. “Safety must be felt amongst all other folks, to not really feel worry.” Marwan stated that the previous regime raised a wall between it and its other folks. “We used to mention, ‘We really feel worry from Syria’ — now we are saying, ‘We worry for Syria,'” he stated. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Marwan stated he was once interested in HTS as a result of they have been “arranged, had a plan, and an idea to avoid wasting Syrians.” He referred to as HTS a mission with out precedent. With time, he argued, the group evolved the adulthood to tell apart between who was once an enemy and a pal, and what had to be accomplished to construct a rustic. Marwan stated he had by no means in my opinion joined al-Qaida and was once happy when HTS reduce ties with the 15 may organization. “Al-Qaida does not constitute the Syrian other folks or its aspirations,” he stated. The most important demanding situations forward The principle problem for the federal government now that the Assad regime is long past is constructing agree with between the folk and their governmental establishments, Marwan stated. “Other people have an previous view that establishments are recommended for the regime and no longer for them,” he stated. One in every of his large demanding situations, he stated, is to struggle corruption. Maximum civil servants earned a non-living salary, he stated, forcing them to rely on facet earning from bribes and presents. “To modify this, you will have to elevate the standard of existence, via expanding wages, offering employment alternatives, bettering investments and attracting buyers,” he stated. Marwan stated Syria additionally faces a frightening geopolitical problem. For this, he blames the Assad regime. “The former regime exploited our vital geographical location to profit different nations, like Iran, and Hezbollah’s militias,” he stated.
This generated an enormous skilled hole for Syrians, Marwan stated. A few of the 550 workers on the governor’s place of business, he stated, most effective two knew find out how to use a pc. Harnessing the facility of those that have been a part of the previous regime is vital for the steadiness of the area, he argued, and must be supported via the global neighborhood, particularly america. Further reporting via Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv.
