Meeting between DAA, transitional govt.; Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations dominate press

The meeting between the Democratic Autonomous Administration delegation and the transitional government dominated today’s press agenda, alongside extensive coverage of the Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt.

Meeting between al-Sharaa and Abdi in Damascus concludes in a “positive atmosphere”

Asharq Al-Awsat wrote about the visit of the Democratic Autonomous Administration delegation to the transitional government, describing the atmosphere as “positive.” The newspaper cited a statement from the Syrian Presidency, which clarified that the meeting focused on mechanisms for implementing the provisions of the “March 10 Agreement” signed between the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government, in addition to discussing the recent clashes in Aleppo.

Other sources reported that the talks covered the issues of “decentralization” and “institutional integration,” noting that the internal security file remains under discussion. The paper quoted observers saying that “the meetings held in Damascus on Tuesday were the largest in terms of attendance and representation, and the atmosphere was positive.”

Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar highlighted the clauses discussed by the two delegations, indicating that the meeting addressed the ongoing war against ISIS, the importance of joint efforts to dismantle the al-Hol and Roj camps, and the possibility of uniting the efforts of Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces in cooperation with the International Coalition to combat the group. The paper also emphasized the need to adhere to the March 10 Agreement as the sole path toward understanding, reconciliation, and gradual integration.

As for Al-Souri, it discussed the ongoing tension in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, quoting one observer as saying that the escalation in Sheikh Maqsoud and northern and eastern Syria aims to achieve temporary political gains and divert attention from failures in economic and service-related issues.

According to the newspaper, observers believe that the transitional government is suffering from a clear decline in popularity due to its failure to improve living conditions and attract support and investment pushing it, in their view, to provoke side crises to distract from economic deterioration and the absence of genuine reforms.

Optimism alone won’t make Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations succeed as the gap widens between Trump and Netanyahu

Annahar discussed the sharp contrast between the approaches of the US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward the American plan for Gaza, following the start of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh under Egyptian mediation.

The newspaper noted that Trump appeared optimistic about the negotiations’ success, citing what he called “Hamas’s agreement on key issues,” while Netanyahu insisted that the core of the plan must be the disarmament of the movement and the end of its rule in the Gaza Strip.

According to the paper, the original plan was limited to dismantling offensive military structures, but Netanyahu’s amendments expanded it to include the surrender of all weapons, sparking disagreement over its content. Trump, meanwhile, seeks to push the parties to implement the plan and end the war amid growing Arab and European pressure on Israel.

In contrast, Israel’s Haaretz quoted analysts suggesting that Netanyahu might derail the agreement despite the progress made, raising questions about whether Trump would enter into a direct confrontation with him.

A-H 

ANHA