Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al Sharaa, in New York for the UN General Assembly, expressed hope on Monday for a security agreement that could ease tensions with Israel while making clear he is not ready to recognize the country.
Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces overthrew Bashar Assad in December, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of delivering the first address by a Syrian leader to the General Assembly in decades. Syrian officials have set a target of finalizing military and security arrangements with Israel by year’s end.
“I hope that will lead us to an agreement that will keep Syria’s sovereignty and also resolve some of Israel’s security concerns,” Sharaa said at a summit on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
He dismissed the idea of joining the Abraham Accords, which saw several Arab nations normalize relations with Israel in 2020. “Syria is different. Those in the Abraham Accords are not Israel’s neighbors. Syria has endured more than 1,000 Israeli raids, strikes and incursions from the Golan Heights,” he said.
Sharaa questioned Israel’s intentions, accusing it of seeking expansion in Syria and violating peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan. He also pointed to widespread anger over events in Gaza as a factor shaping Syria’s stance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday there was a new opportunity for peace with Syria and Lebanon following a military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group allied with Assad.
+ There are no comments
Add yours