Israeli attacks on Syria reflect ‘short-sighted’, militaristic approach
Israel’s actions in hitting Damascus this week were works of a government that did not consider anything other than military approaches to reach its objectives, says Yossi Mekelberg, senior consulting fellow at Chatham House.
Mekelberg added that Israel may have had legitimate concerns about the Syrian government’s failure to prevent sectarian conflict that has drawn in the Druze community in the country’s south, but the Netanyahu government appeared incapable of pursuing any approach other than its favoured “modus operandi of using excessive force and taking over more territory”.
“Israel, for many years, but especially after October 7, is working on the premise that using force will provide it with security,” he said. “It’s a very short-sighted view.”
He said the “radical” changes that had taken place in post-Assad Syria presented risks but also potential opportunities for Israel, including the possibility of security arrangements or even normalisation with the new Syrian government.
“The current government in Israel is incapable of seeing that,” he said. “It doesn’t look at any diplomatic [efforts] or any political change that can take place beyond using military force.”
An Al Jazeera Arabic live report captured an Israeli strike on the Syrian military headquarters in central Damascus on Wednesday
It's not if you consider Israel's strategy is to keep their surrounding countries weak, divided and on the edge of civil war... They are incapable of seeing a way to live peacefully together with their neighbors. Israel has dehumanized their neighbors for too long to see them as equal human beings to reason with.
Syria’s president calls for national unity in speech
We’ve just seen Syria’s President al-Sharaa deliver a televised speech, calling on Syrians to shun division and act in a spirit of reconciliation.
The speech followed his announcement of an “immediate and comprehensive” ceasefire in response to sectarian violence around Druze-majority Suwayda, and the deployment of government troops to the southern city.
Al-Sharaa said national unity was a priority for his government and that part of the role of the government was to be a neutral referee between all parties. He praised the people of Suwayda, other than the few elements that wanted to sow trouble, saying that both Druze and Arab communities in the city were noble people.
It was a message of reassurance, to remind the people of Syria that the government is there for stability, for national unity, and that it would be better for people to listen to the voice of reason.
Syria’s President al-Sharaa addressed recent sectarian clashes in Suwayda and Israeli attacks:
- Conflicts have developed between outlaw groups and Bedouins, leading to an unprecedented deterioration in the situation in Suwayda governorate.
- Violent clashes between groups were close to spiraling out of control if not for the intervention of the Syrian state.
- Suwayda province has always been and still is part and parcel of the state of Syria.
- The Druze are a main component of the social fabric of the country, and the community must not be judged by the actions of a few.
- Any attempt to undermine the unity of the Syrian people or sideline any commitment constitutes a direct threat to our stability.
