Peace with Israel? Syria’s President may be willing to talk, with one big demand 

U.S. Congressman Merlin Stutzman, who met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, claimed today (Wednesday) in a conversation with Israel Hayom that "he is open to peace with Israel."

Regarding the Syrian president, he said: "I hope he will build his government more along the lines of the UAE and Saudi Arabia rather than Qatar. He said he would allow Iran to open an embassy, but would limit visas from Iran. He has a plan for commercial development, and he is open to the Abraham Accords. So he is saying the right things. But what is more important is that we follow his actions, day by day."

He added: "He has been in his position as the leader of Syria for less than six months. It seems he is trying to consolidate the militias into the army and not let them run around Syria causing problems. His history was fighting both Assad and ISIS. It is true that he was a member of al-Qaida and part of a terrorist organization, and we must acknowledge that. It is up to him to show us that he has changed. He needs to prove to the world that he is not another dictator or terrorist, and I am ready to give him the opportunity."

A congressman said: "He was open to peace with Israel. That's what he told me." Regarding the conditions that the President of Syria will set, he said: "That Syria will not be divided and will remain under the current borders."

"He said that there could be negotiations on the Golan Heights. So again, he is open to discussion about the Golan Heights, and that’s good, I felt, and I hope it's going there, that he really wants to build Syria as a state of commerce and prosperity. But he needs to distance himself from his old friends for that, and my hope is that he will do so. It's important to me that every sect and every person in Syria is protected. There must be human rights, religious rights, and minority rights," he continued.

"When asked what Israel needs to do for this to happen, he replied: "There needs to be at least a discussion on the subject. Let him prove to Israel that he wants to be a friend of Israel and build a bridge. Leave the door open."