“Sharaa is incapable of maintaining security in Syria”

Reflecting a pessimistic Israeli view of the rapprochement between Damascus and Tel Aviv, former commander of Israeli Intelligence Unit 8200, Hanan Geffen, downplayed the significance of the ongoing meetings between the two sides, describing them as "superficial and disconnected from what is happening on the ground in Syria."

In an interview on the "This Evening" program on i24NEWS, Geffen said, "These meetings in Azerbaijan are of no significance. The new Syrian regime is doing nothing to control the state's institutions, and it is facing mounting crises on the security and political fronts."

Geffen explained that Israel does not see Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is considered one of the rising stars on the Syrian scene, as a figure capable of imposing stability or extending control, especially in southern Syria. He added, "Sharaa has many problems. He must confront the Uyghurs and Chechens who came with him, in addition to the ongoing unrest in Sweida."

He continued, "These meetings, at their most extreme, represent a Syrian position demanding that Israel return to the 1974 lines. This is out of the question from Israel's perspective, as the areas south of Damascus are still effectively outside the regime's control. Therefore, Israel is dealing with this issue directly."

These statements come at a time when there is a growing body of news about contacts between Syrian and Israeli officials. However, Geffen's comments reflect the Israeli security establishment's skepticism about the feasibility of these efforts, given the fragility of the internal situation in Syria.

Sh-S

ANHA