Israeli Foreign Minister calls new Syrian leadership 'terrorist gangs'
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Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the new Syrian leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Jolani) as a "terrorist gang" while Damascus' new governor, Maher Marwan, stresses that Syria does not seek conflict with 'Israel'.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar attends a press conference in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, November 28, 2024. (AP)
Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described the new Syrian leadership, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), as a "terrorist gang that was in Idlib and took control of the capital, Damascus, and is not a stable government."
In a meeting with officials from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday, Sa'ar stated: "The world talks about a change in the ruling system in Syria, but the reality is that the new government, which now controls all of Syria, is a terrorist gang that was previously in Idlib before, taking control of Damascus and other areas."
In contrast, Maher Marwan, the new governor of Damascus, confirmed earlier today that the new leadership "does not have a problem with Israel" and "does not seek conflict with it," adding that Israel's security concerns following the regime change in Syria were "natural."
'We cannot be an opponent to Israel,' new Damascus Governor says
The new governor of Damascus, Maher Marwan, assured "Israel" that "there exists a people who want coexistence. They want peace. They don't want disputes."
In an interview with NPR on Thursday, Marwan said that "Israel may have felt fear" of certain factions when a new Syrian government took power.
"So it advanced a little, bombed a little, etc.," he said, referring to the wide-scale Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and incursions in the Syrian Golan Heights.
"We have no fear towards Israel, and our problem is not with Israel," he said, adding that the new Syrian administration does not want to "meddle in anything that will threaten Israel's security or any other country's security."
The governor further called on the United States to mediate better ties between the new administration and the Israeli entity.
"We want peace, and we cannot be an opponent to Israel or an opponent to anyone, Marwan asserted.
His sentiments echoed those of Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of the new Syrian administration and the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, who previously pointed out that he does not want conflict with "Israel".
An American official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, informed NPR that Washington had conveyed HTS' message, claiming that no pressure had been applied to either side to take any specific action.
Touching on Marwan's remarks, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the Israelis believe that the Americans understand "Israel's" security needs and concerns but feel the new Syrian administration should be given more of a chance as Israeli positions remain clouded with doubt and skepticism.
In "Israel", Marwan’s statements reportedly failed to garner significant attention, according to the Israeli media outlet. Israeli officials informed Yedioth Ahronoth that the proof regarding the current assurances lies with al-Sharaa and his followers," stressing the importance of not overlooking their ideological foundation.
They also pointed out that the "friendly" messages from the new administration in Damascus remain ambiguous, with uncertainty surrounding the future direction the leadership will pursue.
