“Our drawback is just not with Israel,” Governor of Damascus Maher Marwan, appointed by the brand new administration in Syria, tells NPR. “We do not need to meddle in something that may threaten Israel’s safety or another nation’s safety.”
Emin Sansar/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
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Emin Sansar/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
DAMASCUS, Syria — The newly appointed governor of Damascus has referred to as on the USA to make use of its affect to push for cordial relations with Israel.
In a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Governor Maher Marwan, 42, mentioned that Syria’s new authorities didn’t need to search battle with Israel, which has been hanging strategic navy installations in Syria because the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad fell earlier this month.
“We now have no worry in direction of Israel and our drawback is just not with Israel,” Marwan mentioned. “We do not need to meddle in something that may threaten Israel’s safety or another nation’s safety.”
Sitting in an enormous workplace in central Damascus, furnished with Syrian arabesque picket chairs and colorfully painted partitions, Marwan, carrying a go well with and tie, greeted the NPR staff. He solely shook fingers with the male members of the group.
The governor mentioned it was comprehensible that Israel was involved when the brand new Syrian authorities took energy, due to sure “factions.”
“Israel could have felt worry in the beginning,” Marwan mentioned. “So it superior somewhat, bombed somewhat.”
Along with Israel’s strikes on navy installations, it additionally has seized elements of the Golan Heights, stoking fears in Syria of annexation.
And but Marwan referred to as Israel’s worry “pure.”
Israel and Syria have by no means had diplomatic ties. They share a border however have been in a state of struggle since Israel’s founding in 1948. The 2 nations have fought a number of wars over the a long time, and journey between them has been forbidden.
A cautious response from Israel
“That is excellent news … very, very exceptional,” Uzi Rabi, a senior researcher on the Moshe Dayan Middle for Center Jap and African Research at Tel Aviv College in Israel, mentioned of Marwan’s remarks to NPR.
Rabi mentioned the overture is noteworthy contemplating Syria’s historic opposition to Israel’s existence, and displays the pragmatism of Syria’s new management: it should rehabilitate the nation and can’t afford a struggle with Israel.
Marwan mentioned his views represented these of town of Damascus, and the political opinions 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 beforehand mentioned that he doesn’t need battle with Israel.
HTS is a delegated terrorist group by the USA and has roots in al-Qaida, regardless that the group broke away years in the past.
Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with an Iraqi official in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 26. Sharaa has mentioned he doesn’t need battle with Israel.
Izettin Kasim/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
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Izettin Kasim/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
A U.S. delegation met with Sharaa in Damascus final week and introduced {that a} $10 million bounty can be lifted off the Syrian chief’s head.
Marwan referred to as on Washington to share HTS’ message with Israel.
“There exists a individuals who need peace and never disputes,” Marwan mentioned.
A U.S. official who was not approved to talk publicly in regards to the matter advised NPR that the U.S. relayed HTS’ message, however that Washington has not urged both nation in any route.
In an announcement to NPR, Israel’s response was unequivocal.
“Israel is taking measures to make sure that the safety of its residents is maintained,” the assertion from the International Ministry mentioned. “We advise the worldwide group to do not forget that Syria’s new ruling energy seized giant elements of Syria by pressure. It was not democratically elected. It has long-standing historic ties toal-Qaida. That is an extremist Islamist regime that merely moved from Idlib to Damascus.”
The assertion added: “The USA has not pressured Israel to behave in a different way.”
Rabi mentioned Israel’s cautious response displays a “lack of confidence” 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 dialogue with the brand new Syrian management by way of confidence-building measures within the coming months, resulting in “semi-normalization” of relations by way of safety cooperation alongside the border.
”You might appear to be a idiot if you’ll say, ‘Hey, all the pieces is okay. Peace is on the desk. Let’s go for it,'” Rabi mentioned. “Time will inform, however that is simply form of a sign of how issues are being modified within the Center East for the great.”
A message to People
Marwan mentioned his major message to the individuals of the USA is considered one of peace.
“As a Syrian individuals, we’re peaceable,” he mentioned. “We aren’t warmongering traditionally.”
Marwan blamed the Assad regime for creating what he referred to as “gaps” between the U.S. administration and the Syrian individuals.
“These gaps must be crammed in order that the 2 individuals may be mates and we will accomplish issues which can be helpful to each nations,” he mentioned.
Marwan mentioned the area ought to study from previous U.S. expertise of struggle in locations like Afghanistan and Iraq, saying it “does not work.”
“Battle begets struggle, struggle begets hate, struggle begets evil, struggle begets destruction,” he mentioned.
He emphasised that he wished the American individuals to know that there isn’t any “animosity” between the 2 nations.
“America is a grand nation, and is on the helm of all nations, for which we’ve got nice respect and appreciation for, and has experience that we need to reap the benefits of,” he mentioned.
Marwan mentioned that the USA and Syria wanted one another.
“Any illogical political or navy battle will rob us of all mutual advantages,” he mentioned.
“We solely maintain respect and appreciation” for the U.S., he mentioned.
Governor as activist
Marwan hails from an elite Damascus household and grew up in a rich neighborhood within the capital. He mentioned he fled to Idlib in 2011 after being harassed by Assad’s safety forces for collaborating in protests that erupted throughout Syria as a part of the Arab Spring uprisings throughout the Center East. Assad’s violent clampdown on the peaceable protests triggered Syria’s 13-year civil struggle.
Marwan graduated with a level in Islamic regulation from Idlib College and spent a decade working in administration at numerous companies. There he mentioned he felt “burning” to vary Syria.
“We wished to free Syria from the safety iron fist towards the Syrian individuals,” he mentioned. “Safety needs to be felt amongst all individuals, to not really feel worry.”
Marwan mentioned that the outdated regime raised a wall between it and its individuals.
“We used to say, ‘We really feel worry from Syria’ — now we are saying, ‘We worry for Syria,'” he mentioned.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
Marwan mentioned he was drawn to HTS as a result of they have been “organized, had a plan, and an idea to save lots of Syrians.”
He referred to as HTS a mission with out precedent. With time, he argued, the group developed the maturity to distinguish between who was an enemy and a good friend, and what wanted to be accomplished to construct a rustic.
Marwan mentioned he had by no means personally joined al-Qaida and was happy when HTS reduce ties with the terrorist group.
“Al-Qaida does not characterize the Syrian individuals or its aspirations,” he mentioned.
The largest challenges forward
The principle problem for the federal government now that the Assad regime is gone is constructing belief between the individuals and their governmental establishments, Marwan mentioned.
“Individuals have an outdated view that establishments are helpful for the regime and never for them,” he mentioned.
One in all his large challenges, he mentioned, is to battle corruption. Most civil servants earned a non-living wage, he mentioned, forcing them to depend upon facet incomes from bribes and items.
“To alter this, you will need to increase the standard of life, by rising wages, offering employment alternatives, enhancing investments and attracting traders,” he mentioned.
Marwan mentioned Syria additionally faces a frightening geopolitical problem. For this, he blames the Assad regime.
“The earlier regime exploited our essential geographical location to profit different nations, like Iran, and Hezbollah’s militias,” he mentioned.
This generated an enormous skilled hole for Syrians, Marwan mentioned. Among the many 550 staff on the governor’s workplace, he mentioned, solely two knew how you can use a laptop computer.
Harnessing the facility of those that have been a part of the previous regime is critical for the soundness of the area, he argued, and needs to be supported by the worldwide group, particularly the USA.
Further reporting by Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv.
