Ahmed Al-Sharaa calls on Israel to withdraw from the Golan and affirms Syria's sovereignty
The Syrian President during the transitional period demands an end to the occupation and refers to Syria's return to the international community
Quick Look
- Syrian President during the transitional period, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan, stressing the invalidity of the annexation measures.
- He also referred to the return of the displaced, the lifting of international sanctions, and the end of Syria’s isolation, stressing that any regional planning that ignores Damascus will be deficient.
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Why It Matters
Syria is going through a transitional phase after the fall of the Assad regime, with changes in international diplomatic relations.
The Syrian President in the transitional period, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, said that the historic opportunity for peace exists “for those who want peace,” in the context of his call on Israel to withdraw from the areas it occupies in the Golan Heights.
He added during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday, that "the Golan will remain Syrian territory, and all annexation measures are invalid and annulled by the force of Security Council Resolution 497."
He continued, "At a time when the world is happy with the good return of Syria, Israel appears to attack Syria with about 500 air and artillery strikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and about 300 arrests and arrests," noting that these actions threaten the stability of his country.
Al-Sharaa called on Israel to withdraw to the lines of December 8, 2024, rejecting “attempts to impose a fait accompli and the continuation of its (Israel’s) attacks in the region.”
In his speech, Al-Shara also touched on the regional energy map and said, "Any development planning that charts the future of the region and ignores the heart of Syria will remain deficient."
He also explained that since the fall of the Assad regime, Damascus has become the headquarters of about 60 diplomatic missions, adding, "The clouds of sanctions have lifted with the abolition of the Caesar Act and the gradual lifting of sanctions by European and British authorities, and the page on the state sponsor of terrorism has been turned to end 47 years of isolation."
Al-Sharaa also said that more than 3.5 million displaced people have voluntarily returned to Syria.
Open Questions
- What will be the official Israeli reaction to these statements?
- What are the details of the gradual lifting of sanctions?
