New York, Sep 23 (V7N)- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has urged Israel to reconsider its security policy, saying regional security cannot be achieved by focusing solely on Israel’s concerns.
Speaking at an Atlantic Council discussion in New York on Tuesday (September 22), Al-Sharaa said direct talks between Syria and Israel had continued for nearly a year and that the two sides had reached substantial agreement on most issues before, according to his account, Israel introduced new conditions.
The Syrian president discussed Syria-Israel relations, the future of the Golan Heights, regional security concerns and his views on the impact of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli society.
Responding to a question about the trauma experienced by Israelis following the October 7 attacks, Al-Sharaa said he understood the suffering of innocent people but argued that regional policy should not be determined by a single historical event.
He also referred to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and argued that developments there should be considered alongside Israel’s security concerns. His remarks on Gaza reflected his stated position rather than an independent assessment of the conflict.
Al-Sharaa said that if Israel wants to ensure its own security, it must also take into account the security of neighboring countries and peoples.
He said the current approach could create additional security challenges rather than resolve them, urging Israel to consider a broader regional security framework.
The Syrian president also addressed his past association with al-Qaeda during the Atlantic Council discussion, as part of a broader discussion about Syria’s political transition and its efforts to rebuild state institutions and strengthen regional relations.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where regional security and the conflicts in the Middle East have been prominent issues.
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