Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara has said that his country could cooperate with Israel on security matters and that he is open to negotiations between the two countries.
Al-Shara made the comments during a meeting in April with a delegation of American businesspeople led by Jewish-American entrepreneur Jonathan Bass, published in the Jewish Journal. The group traveled to Damascus with the aim of jumpstarting economic ties between the two nations and encouraging American investment in Syria's war-ravaged economy. The meeting was seen as a potential stepping stone toward restoring diplomatic relations between Syria and the US, and to lifting a significant portion of American sanctions on Syria.
"I want to be clear," al-Shara said in reference to Israel. "The era of endless mutual bombings must come to an end. No country can thrive when its skies are filled with fear. The reality is that we have common enemies, and we can play a major role in regional security."
"Peace must be earned through mutual respect, not fear. We will engage where there is honesty and a clear path to coexistence — and walk away from anything less," the Syrian president said regarding possible negotiations with Israel.
Al-Shara also addressed the issue of Syria's Druze population, saying they are not political pawns.
"Syria's Druze are not pawns," he said. "They are citizens — deeply rooted, historically loyal, and deserving of every protection under the law. Their safety is non-negotiable," al-Shara told Bass.
