The Trap Al-Shara Is Setting for Israel: The Syrian President's Real Plan

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara provided unprecedented statements that shed light on his strategic intentions. Beyond the overt content, the interview reveals a whole array of political and military interests – from an attempt to reach a 'quiet deal' that would tie Israel's hands, through the search for international legitimacy, to deep-seated moves intended to establish absolute control within Syria while pushing out its opponents and minorities.

The central revelation in the interview concerns the admission by an Arab leader, for the first time in history, that his government is holding contacts for a security agreement with Israel with the participation of a group of countries. Al-Shara stated that they are avoiding confrontation and are working to reach an agreement that will lead to a comprehensive peace, without waiving Syria's right to the occupied Golan. In practice, this means a demand for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria and reaching a 'quiet deal' that would prevent the IDF from operating freely or bombing in the area, alongside refraining from recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan or promoting full normalization in the style of the Abraham Accords at this stage.

Beneath the moderate rhetoric hides a clear plan of action intended to establish tough internal control. After suppressing the Kurds and neutralizing the Alawites, al-Shara is setting his sights on taking over the Druze Mountain in the As-Suwayda province, even at the cost of a violent confrontation or harming the local population, with the goal of establishing an Islamic Sharia state. Meanwhile, he maintains a hard hand and ignores the rights of the other minorities in the country.

At the same time, al-Shara is trying to launder his public image. As someone who previously led a terrorist organization of the Al-Qaeda type, he is trying to signal to the West, the USA, and the Gulf states that he is pragmatic and not like the Assad regime or Iran, with the goal of removing sanctions, receiving reconstruction funds, and being recognized as a legitimate president. Within the framework of his attempts at distancing and regional influence, al-Shara also referred to Lebanon in the interview and stated that Syria has no intention of intervening militarily in its neighbor. He supported the idea that the Lebanese state should have an exclusive monopoly on weapons and on making decisions of war and peace, while warning that chaos in Lebanon would directly harm Syria's stability.

Al-Shara is leading these moves out of a deep understanding of his situation and the situation of his country. He emphasized that Syria does not want to continue the legacy of political mistakes of the last 80 years, and because of its economic, military, and social destruction in the face of the remnants of ISIS and numerous militias, he must have quiet on his borders in order to rebuild the country without being dragged into destructive confrontations that would collapse his regime.

The Syrian arena is emerging today as one of the most dangerous and sensitive sectors for Israel, especially after the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Under a veneer of pragmatic pretense, Syria is housing radical Islamist militias that could threaten the country's security. Experts emphasize that Israel has a moral and national duty not to allow al-Shara to harm the Druze on the As-Suwayda mountain or to establish himself militarily near our border, and that any future agreement or contact must be managed with deep suspicion toward a leader whose only goal is survival and the establishment of his Islamic regime.