Except my Homeland – Syria, the other Part of my Heart

I am not here to take part in the celebrations of the Syrian people, nor to share in the mourning of some of them. The phase the Syrian state is going through is extremely delicate and fraught with sensitivities, repercussions, uncertainties, and ambiguities, which are undoubtedly concerning.

Our focus is not on the nature of the past regime in Syria, nor do I concern myself with the nature of the new regime. This is a matter that pertains solely to the Syrian people and their leadership, whom I can only respect, as long as my country remains safe, its leadership enjoys good relations with its neighbors, sleeps peacefully, and wakes up with a clear mind, untroubled by tension or burdened by any form of pressure, under any guise.
My primary concern in my close monitoring of the Syrian situation is the relentless and ongoing aggression that has persisted since Syria opened its doors to bid farewell to one era and usher in another. The acts of aggression have not ceased. They began in southern Syria and extended beyond the Golan Heights under the pretext of requiring a buffer zone, compelling Syria—preoccupied with its internal affairs—to overlook the destruction wrought by the active aggression along its borders.
Not a single day passed after the establishment of the demilitarized zone in the Golan before Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced, swallowing up Quneitra and the surrounding villages and regions, eventually reaching deep into Syrian territory, just 40 kilometers from the Syrian capital, Damascus. Moshe Dayan's dreams, which he openly recorded in his memoirs when he stated, "I stand on the Golan Heights, and my gaze reaches Damascus; only 70 kilometers separate me from my dream.".
And now, Israeli forces have crossed the boundaries of reason, boldly, confidently, and shamelessly advancing into the heart of Syria, clearly to reach the capital. They have even reoccupied the summit of “Jabal Al Sheikh," which was liberated during the 1973 October War. Moreover, they have carried out 418 continuous airstrikes over several days on Damascus and Latakia, under the pretext of destroying weapons and ammunition sites belonging to Syrian army remnants, with the latest strikes targeting various communication and surveillance platforms, both wired and wireless, as well as radar systems, among other things.
It is important to note that the writing of this "protest," if I may call it that, coincides with the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in my beloved country, Jordan. All the opinions gathered unanimously condemned the Israeli violations of Syrian territory. These opinions were shared by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the Lebanese Republic, and others. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the meeting and expressed his support for the final statement of the Arab Foreign Ministers' Conference, which Jordan convened. This conference resulted in a very significant final statement, consisting of 17 points, all focused on the rebuilding of the Syrian state, both government and people.
As for Palestine, as I have said before and will say now, no one can blame anyone. Palestine is equally sought after by its people in exile as it is by those inside, for liberation. There is no distinction between the two, unless Palestine, for its people, is merely a keychain for a luxury car, a picture on a golden necklace, or a faded painting on a forgotten wall. The Lebanese resistance has made great efforts, sacrificing money and lives to free Jerusalem. However, the treacherous enemy has relied on a formidable arsenal that is not easily defeated. Therefore, it is time to recognize that all Palestinians, from all corners of the world, must unite on a common ground and acknowledge that Palestine is theirs and for their children, just as the Jews have done—yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh