The capital city of Syria, Damascus is one of the great historic cities of the Middle East and is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest, capital in the world with a history going back thousands of years.
It has a rich history, having been an important city to many empires throughout time, and countless ruling dynasties have called the city home.
At one point, Damascus was renowned as an important cultural and economic center in the Middle East and historic buildings dotted the city.
However, in recent years, the city has fallen into drastic decline and lost much of its historic splendor due to the Syrian Civil War and the conflict with ISIS.
Despite this, it still maintains an important role as the seat of power of the Syrian government.
There may be a window of opportunity for better ties with Syria, however it seems the new policy in Jerusalem may close that window.
‘The organization should not be viewed in isolation from federalist tendencies and Netanyahu’s pro-Druze remarks,’ says Syria and Lebanon expert, Dr. Moran Levanoni
Hundreds protested the remarks as a prelude to ‘dividing Syria,’ while some welcomed ‘any helping hand for the Druze community.’
Shara’a is visiting Jordan following comments by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that southern Syria should be demilitarized.
The IDF said that its continued activities in and around the buffer zone in Syria add additional security for Israel generally, and especially for those living in the Golan.
A one-day dialogue in Damascus could signal a new chapter for Syria – but will HTS’s influence stifle real change?
"We demand full demilitarization of southern Syria, in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida," Netanyahu said at a military graduation ceremony.
Over the past decades, the number of Jews in Syria decreased from about five thousand to seven elderly individuals.
Archaeologists in Poland uncovered 26 iron objects made from a single meteorite.
Virtually all of the few thousand Jews in Syria promptly left, leaving less than 10 in the Syrian capital.
JPOST Digital Library
