Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa revealed that diplomatic negotiations with Israel collapsed during the final stages, describing Israel’s stance toward Syria as consistently hostile.
Speaking at a Chatham House forum in London, al-Sharaa disclosed that Damascus had attempted to establish constructive dialogue with Israeli officials to find common ground, but recent events derailed any potential breakthrough.
On the topic of growing Middle East tensions, al-Sharaa declared that Syria will remain neutral in any US-Israeli conflict with Iran unless Syria faces direct attack and all diplomatic avenues are exhausted. Political analysts view this stance as Syria’s strategy to avoid getting pulled into a broader regional conflict.
The Syrian leader also distanced himself from al-Qaeda’s extremist views, stating his fundamental disagreements with their policies and ideology drove him to pursue an alternative path. He emphasized that Syria’s new government is adopting different strategies to prevent repeating historical errors, indicating efforts to reshape the nation’s political trajectory during this transition phase.
Al-Sharaa drew parallels between Syrian and Palestinian experiences, describing a common struggle where Syrians have faced hardships comparable to those endured by Gaza residents, underscoring the interconnected nature of regional humanitarian and political challenges.
These statements emerged during al-Sharaa’s ongoing European diplomatic tour. He traveled to Britain following meetings with high-ranking German officials, as part of Syria’s broader initiative to enhance political relationships and strengthen connections with European governments.
