I WILL get straight to the point in addressing Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Since 1974, Syria has faced many events that have isolated it from the world, particularly due to sanctions. Despite this, the leadership at the time failed to grasp the full consequences of these events. Instead, it remained lost in unrealistic dreams, clinging to slogans that were impossible to achieve because they lacked a solid foundation. Today, when you, President Ahmed al- Sharaa, declare that “concluding a security agreement with Israel is an unavoidable necessity,” you must acknowledge, as the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat had said, that “99 percent of the cards are in the hands of the United States of America.”
Therefore, Syria’s status cannot be resolved without reaching an agreement with Israel, especially as the Arab states lack the political and military power and support to impose their own terms. This is compounded by the fact that 95 percent of their armaments come from Western countries, including the United States, while the nuclear systems supplied to Israel are far more advanced than those provided to the Arab states.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, if Sadat had heeded the advice of Hafez al-Assad and other Arab leaders when he pursued peace with Israel under American patronage, Egypt would be under threat today. The Suez Canal, Sinai, and other territories would be under Israeli control, just as the Syrian Golan Heights has been occupied by Tel Aviv since 1981. The former regime did nothing but condemn and “reserve its right to respond.” Over the course of 51 years, we saw no real response from the Syrian regime, which eventually collapsed and became a thing of the past.
We must be pragmatic. Every Arab battle with Israel has benefited Israel more than the Arabs anticipated. The most recent example is Hamas’ reckless adventure in Gaza, which gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu everything he wanted, and then some. Meanwhile, Hamas’ response has been limited to a few slogans and statements. Today, 1.9 million Palestinians are trapped in Gaza, facing the harshest conditions and facing death from starvation and thirst.
What kind of victory are they really talking about? The slogan “Glory, O Arabs, Glory” now reflects a stark reality; it speaks of historical glories that have long faded into the past. Since 1917, beginning with the enforcement of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that divided the Arab world between Britain and France, and then the United States, which inherited British power, Arab “glory” has largely been reduced to patriotic slogans. The Arabs have not invented anything. Therefore, Your Excellency President al-Sharaa, Syria today requires tremendous effort to revive itself and shake off the rubble of the outdated slogans. The Syrian people are talented, intelligent, and capable of achieving great things, if only they are provided with the necessary tools and opportunities.
It is time for the Syrian giant to rise from the depths of sanctions, and reclaim its long-awaited renaissance. President al-Sharaa, I urge you not to listen to dreamers who have nothing to offer their own people, let alone the Arab world. Continue on your path toward securing Syria’s supreme national interests, which require a realistic and pragmatic approach to dealing with these issues. States operate on the principle of “the end justifies the means”, which means prioritizing national interests above all else, followed by the stability and strength of the state, both economically and socially, and then the interests of individuals. This is precisely why Damascus is currently facing a major crisis. Failure is not an option, as it would mean the death of the emerging state.
Therefore, it is crucial to stay the course, no matter how difficult. Every step forward makes the journey a little less arduous. The path to achieving your goals begins with reconciliation with the international community. Even if you do not trust Israel, your commitment, as well as the assistance of major powers, will be in Syria’s best interests.
