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As the Arab summit draws near, Israeli fear on the rise: Israeli media

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 May 2023 17:40
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Israeli media reflect on the underlying consequences of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's attendance at the Arab League Summit in Jeddah.

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  • As-Assad
    Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad speaks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 19, 2023 (AP via Syrian Presidency)

Israeli media reflected growing Israeli concern as Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is set to arrive in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah where the Arab League summit will be held starting Friday. 

According to The Jerusalem Post, Al-Assad will "rub shoulders with regional leaders who once backed his war foes;" a statement that projected Israeli resentment of a changing Arab world in which Al-Assad has proven to play an integral role, which goes completely against Israeli interests in the region.

Significantly, Israeli media also underscored that "Syria's army, backed by Iran, Russia and paramilitary groups, has regained control of most of the country," adding that they consider Al-Assad's presence at the Arab League summit a "striking recovery in the Syrian leader's fortunes."

The Jerusalem Post recognized Al-Assad's victory by citing David Lesch, a Middle East History professor at Trinity University in Texas, who noted, "This is, indeed, a triumphant moment for Bashar Al-Assad, being accepted back into the Arab League, the Arab world, after being shunned and isolated by it for over a decade."

The return of an Arab League in which Syria has proven to be an integral player has underlying consequences according to Israeli media, all of which could be threatening to Israeli interests in the region.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the Syrian President - having been a prominent topic of division among Arabs in the past decade based on who supported his legitimate position as president of the Syrian Arab Republic and who supported armed militants that have proven to be US-backed - has not been the only topic that Arab leaderships have disagreed on. 

The Israeli newspaper wrote: "Assad is not the only divisive issue among Arabs. The League is also split over questions ranging from normalization with Israel and how to support the Palestinian cause, the regional roles of Turkey and Iran, and which side to pick in polarized global politics."

Moreover, Israeli media underlined that Sudan's two warring military factions will also be present in Jeddah. It is worth noting that "Israel" has been highly interested in the ongoing war in Sudan as it has repeatedly sought to normalize ties with Khartoum.

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'Stepping down was not an option, departure unplanned': Al-Assad

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Read more: 'Israel' eager to mediate ceasefire in Sudan: What are the reasons?

Furthermore, The Jerusalem Post claimed that Saudi Arabia has sought to "send a message to the global community that Arabs will work together."

Abdullah Baaboud, the State of Qatar Chair for Islamic Area Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, who was cited in The Jerusalem Post, underscored that the upcoming Arab League summit "also helps it (Riyadh) not only in term of its status within the Middle East but also beyond that when it comes to dealing with international powers, whether it is the United States, Europe or China."

Israeli concerns, which have been reflected through their media outlets, have unsurprisingly been in concert with US concerns as the latter also warned of normalizing ties with Syria's President.

Syria Arab League readmission is in defiance of US warnings: Bloomberg

A report published by Tarek El-Tablawy and Abdel Latif Wahba on Bloomberg considered the Arab League states' decision to reinstate Syria to the bloc comes "in defiance of US warnings."

The report cited Hossam Zaki, the Arab League’s Assistant Secretary-General, as saying that the decision was unanimous.

It suggested that "the Arab League decision to disregard US reservations reflects America’s waning influence in the oil-exporting region and a growing willingness among allies to forge their own political path and build stronger strategic ties with US rivals."

The two writers also mentioned that the decision "could also be a win for Iran and Russia, which have supported Assad militarily but need regional help to rehabilitate him diplomatically and eventually help rebuild a country shattered by a war that’s displaced millions."

Earlier, the Council of the Arab League announced readmitting Syria as a full member, 12 years after suspending its membership following the start of the war on the country.

The Council said in a statement that it had been decided to "resume the participation of delegations of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic in the meetings of the Arab League Council and all its affiliated organizations and agencies," explaining that the decision is effective as of May 7.

  • Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad
  • Israeli Media
  • Arab League
  • Jeddah
  • "Israel"
  • Saudi Arabia

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