With the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, many within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights say they need peace with Israel and a return to Syrian management.
Kamil Khater, a barber within the Druze Arab city of Majdal Shams, stated: “We, the Syrians… need peace with everybody, together with Israel.”
However as soon as the transition in Damascus is full, he stated, they need Golan to “return to the homeland, Syria”.
Israel conquered a lot of the Golan Heights from Syria within the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict and annexed these areas in 1981, in a transfer solely america has recognised.
Many within the space nonetheless maintain Syrian nationality, and residents have the correct to use for Israeli citizenship.
In Majdal Shams, folks vigorously celebrated Assad’s overthrow by Islamist-led forces over the weekend, gathering in the primary sq. to sing and wave the distinctive five-coloured flag of the Druze.
The Druze are an ethno-religious minority residing largely in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the occupied Golan.
“We’re glad about Assad’s fall,” stated Umm Diaa, standing reverse “Shouting Hill”, so-called as a result of Syrian households separated by the armistice line trade information there.
“We would like a free Syria the place the Syrian persons are united, residing in peace,” she added.
Bashar al-Muqtat, one other resident, stated he hoped the Syrian folks would “regain their legit rights within the Golan and the homeland of Syria”.
The occupied Golan can be house to quite a few Israeli settlements together with Trump Heights, inaugurated in 2019 in honour of then-US president Donald Trump who recognised Israel’s annexation.
– ‘Hopeful’ –
Amid the enjoyment, there was additionally apprehension about what the way forward for Syria would possibly appear to be.
Talal Abu Saleh, who works in a ski resort on close by Mount Hermon, stated he believed issues might solely enhance.
“I’m optimistic after Assad’s downfall. I do not assume something worse than his regime might exist. There may be at all times uncertainty, however I insist on remaining hopeful,” the 69-year-old informed AFP.
Khater stated that he needed to benefit from the current second earlier than worrying concerning the future.
“At this stage, we do not need to spoil our preliminary pleasure. The sensation is unbelievable, seeing this tyrant ousted after he oppressed, displaced and impoverished the Syrian folks,” he stated.
Khater stated that Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, whose Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded the overthrow of Assad, had despatched encouraging alerts regardless of his previous affiliation with jihadist actions.
HTS has its roots within the Syrian department of Al-Qaeda, with which it broke ties in 2016.
“They did not elevate their black flags, sending a message that this revolution belongs to all Syrians,” Khater stated, whereas cautioning towards potential domination by anybody faction.
In distinction, Muqtat was sure that Jolani and others main the Syrian riot couldn’t be trusted.
Calling them criminals, he stated that they had dedicated atrocities and have been manipulated by international powers.
In Syria, the HTS-led insurgent alliance this week appointed the previous insurgent governor of Idlib province Muhammad al-Bashir as interim prime minister.
In Idlib, lengthy below HTS management, the group confronted accusations from residents and rights teams of cracking down on and abusing dissenters.
The Israeli authorities has expressed no real interest in giving up its management on the Golan Heights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli troops to grab the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating the Israeli and Syrian-controlled Golan on the weekend.
Afterwards, Netanyahu stated that the annexed Golan would stay Israeli “for eternity”.
