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Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Exclusive: Washington backs Israel-Syria peace efforts
Shafaq News/ The United States continues to support efforts to establish long-term stability between Israel and Syria, a State Department spokesperson confirmed exclusively to Shafaq News. 'Efforts that lead to lasting stability between Israel and Syria remain a priority,' the spokesperson said, adding that 'stability and peace in Syria serve the security interests of all parties.' When questioned about Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, the spokesperson referred inquiries to Israeli authorities. 'Questions regarding military operations should be directed to the Israeli authorities.' The statement comes amid reports of direct communication between Syrian and Israeli officials aimed at reducing tensions and preventing a wider confrontation along the border. In an interview published in the Jewish Journal, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara expressed support for ending cross-border hostilities with Israel, noting that 'prosperity cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear.' He also highlighted the potential for cooperation on shared security challenges, reflecting a shift in the regional landscape. Since the collapse of the previous government, southern Syria has seen increasing instability, including Israeli patrols in Quneitra province and the establishment of new checkpoints between Khan Arnabah and Jaba. Al-Shara called for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, describing it as 'a fundamental safeguard for mutual restraint and the protection of civilians, particularly the Druze communities in the Golan Heights.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sharaa in First Interview with Jewish Newspaper: Stable Syria Will Not be Built Through Speeches, Slogans
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa broke all barriers that surrounded ousted President Bashar al-Assad, when he spoke last week about his responsibilities and about Syria's domestic and foreign policy. He is direct in addressing taboo issues that were previously tackled with slogans in public and a different reality under the table, such as Syria's relationship with Israel and the latter's occupation of Syrian territory. Legacy of Assad Regime The last barrier Sharaa broke was an interview he made with a Jewish newspaper, the first since assuming power six months ago. The article, written by Jonathan Bass, was published by the Jewish Journal on May 28. 'Many Syrians see Sharaa not as a revolutionary but as a restorer, someone capable of stitching together a nation fatigued by war and fractured by identity. It is perhaps his very ordinariness, his refusal to play the strongman, despite his extremist former life, that makes him a man of the hour,' the Journal wrote. Bass said the Syrian President carries himself with quiet conviction. 'Sharaa is soft-spoken, but every word lands with deliberation. There is no triumph in his voice, only urgency,' he wrote. In the interview, Sharaa said, 'We have inherited more than ruins,' he said. 'We've inherited trauma, mistrust, and fatigue. But we have also inherited hope. Fragile, yes, but real.' For decades, Syria was ruled by a regime that confused loyalty with silence, coexistence with hate, and stability with suppression. The Assad dynasty, first Hafez and then Bashar, ruled with an iron grip, using fear and executions to cement control, while the country's institutions withered and dissent turned deadly. Bass said Sharaa is clear-eyed about the legacy he inherits. 'It would be dishonest to speak of a clean slate,' Sharaa said. 'The past is present, in the eyes of every person, on every street, in every family. But our duty now is not to repeat it. Not even as a softer version. We must create something entirely new.' Trust of Syrians According to Bass, Sharaa's early moves have been cautious, yet deeply symbolic. 'He has ordered the release of political prisoners, initiated dialogue with opposition groups once exiled or silenced, and pledged to reform Syria's notorious security apparatus,' he wrote at the Jewish Journal. 'His vision is that of a vibrant, multicultural, and pluralistic society. He supports the right of return for all Syrians whose assets were seized under the Assad regime,' Bass added. 'To uncover the truth behind Syria's mass graves, Sharaa recognizes the need for partnership with the United States to provide forensic technology and equipment, from establishing DNA databases to securing cooperation from those responsible for past atrocities,' the journalist wrote. Sharaa told the Journal, 'If I am the only one speaking, then Syria has learned nothing. We are inviting all voices to the table, secular, religious, tribal, academic, rural, and urban. The state must listen now more than it commands.' But will people trust again? Will they believe the promises of a government that rises from the ashes of dictatorship? 'I don't ask for trust,' he replied. 'I ask for patience and for scrutiny. Hold me accountable. Hold this process accountable. That is how trust will come.' When Bass asked the president what Syrians most need right now, he answered without hesitation: 'Dignity through work. Peace through purpose.' In towns emptied by war and villages still scarred by conflict, the cry is not for politics but for normalcy, the chance to rebuild homes, raise children, and earn a living in peace. Sharaa knows this, Bass wrote. He is pushing for emergency economic programs focused on job creation in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and public services. 'It's not about ideology anymore,' Sharaa told the Journal. 'It's about giving people a reason to stay, a reason to live, and a reason to believe.' The Syrian President said, 'Every young man with a job is one less soul at risk of radicalization. Every child in school is a vote for the future.' He then emphasized partnerships with regional investors, microenterprise grants for returnees, and vocational training for youth who have known nothing but war. 'A stable Syria will not be built through speeches or slogans, it will be built through action: in the marketplace, in classrooms, on farms, and in workshops. We will rebuild supply chains. Syria will return as a hub for trade and commerce.' Relations with Israel Bass wrote there's a deeper insight behind Sharaa's economic vision: after a generation of loss, Syrians are tired of conflict. They crave peace, not just the absence of war, but the presence of opportunity. In one of the more delicate parts of our conversation, Sharaa addressed Syria's future relationship with Israel - a subject that has haunted the region since 1948 and intensified with each airstrike, covert operation, and accusation of proxy warfare. 'I want to be clear,' Sharaa said. 'The era of endless tit-for-tat bombings must end. No nation prospers when its skies are filled with fear. The reality is, we have common enemies, and we can play a major role in regional security.' He expressed a desire to return to the spirit of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement not merely as a ceasefire line, but as the foundation for mutual restraint and protection of civilians, especially the Druze communities in southern Syria and the Golan Heights. 'Syria's Druze are not pawns,' he said. 'They are citizens, deeply rooted, historically loyal, and deserving of every protection under the law. Their safety is non-negotiable.' While he stopped short of proposing immediate normalization, Sharaa signaled openness to future talks grounded in international law and sovereignty. Trump: Man of Peace Perhaps most notably, Sharaa voiced a bold diplomatic overture: his desire to sit down directly with former US President Donald Trump, Bass wrote. 'However the media portrays him,' Sharaa said, 'I see him as a man of peace. We've both been shot at by the same enemy. Trump understands leverage, strength, and outcomes. Syria needs an honest broker who can reset the conversation. If there is a possibility of alignment that helps bring stability to the region - and security to the US and its allies- I am ready to have that conversation. He is the only man capable of fixing this region, bringing us together, one brick at a time.' Commenting on Sharaa's statement, Bass said it was 'striking', not just for its candor, but for what it implied: the new Syria is not afraid to make unconventional moves in pursuit of peace and recognition. Sharaa does not sugarcoat Syria's challenges: more than a million dead in mass graves, 12 million displaced, an economy on life support, sanctions still in place, and rival militias entrenched in the north. 'This is not a fairy tale,' he said. 'It is a recovery. And recoveries are painful.'
New York Post
02-05-2025
- New York Post
Two Israeli businessmen murdered hours apart in same LA neighborhood — with one held captive for hours and beaten to death
Two Israeli businessmen were found murdered hours apart in their homes in the same section of Los Angeles Saturday, with one tied up and beaten to death while the other was identified as the brother of a prison warden in the Jewish state, police said. There is no apparent connection between the two killings, but they both occurred in the San Fernando Valley inside the victims' homes. The murder of Alexander Modebadze, 47, was particularly heinous, according to cops. Three attackers broke into Modebadze's home, held him captive for hours and savagely beat him to death, police said in a statement. The crime scene in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, where police found the murdered Aleksandre Modebadze. KTLA Police say three attackers broke into Modebadze's house and beat him to death. KTLA Advertisement Police later arrested and charged three Georgian nationals for the murder: Pata Kochiashvili, Zaza Outarashvili and Basiki Kutsishvili. They are being held on a $2 million bail. Later that day, cops found another murdered Israeli businessman in the San Fernando Valley: Meni Hidhra, the brother of the warden of Israel's Nitzan Prison, the Jewish Journal reported. Police have revealed few details about that crime, including how he was killed, but they did release photos of a possible suspect: a 30 to 40-year-old Hispanic male.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Share your stories with me': Meet Jessica Tzikas, the new Jewish Journal editor
Hello readers, I am honored to introduce myself as the new editor of the Jewish Journal at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. As a lifelong member of the South Florida Jewish community, the Jewish Journal has been a staple in my household since before I could even read the pages. I was born and raised in Boca Raton, had my Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El, and now immerse my own young children in local Jewish life. Growing up in Boca Raton meant that Judaism always surrounded me — whether through the friends I sat next to in class or the extracurriculars I attended after school. Still, I experienced my own share of antisemitism, like when a classmate drew a swastika in my fifth-grade yearbook. But it wasn't until I left the safety of my hometown that I realized just how rare, and special, being Jewish really is. I received my bachelor's degree in editing, writing, and media from Florida State University and quickly moved to Philadelphia after graduation to pursue a master's in publishing from Drexel University. There, I worked as an editor for Philadelphia-based magazines — but while I loved the city, I always felt a strong urge to be home. After five years away, and with a desire to start a family, I moved back to South Florida, knowing it was the best place to raise my children. Since then, I have written for a variety of local publications, covering restaurants, events, and the people who make our area so notable and diverse. When Oct. 7, 2023, happened, an uneasiness washed over me and my career trajectory took a turn. After my daughter's Chabad preschool received a bomb threat, I knew I needed to do more for our community. Raising awareness and continuing to be openly proud to be Jewish didn't feel like enough. I began to focus my writing on Jewish publications, hoping I could help bring a sense of familiarity and belonging to fellow Jews my age. And yet, I still felt I could be doing more. So when the Jewish Journal posted the job for a new editor, I felt it was, as my grandmother always said, 'bashert.' The Jewish Journal has always been a publication that helps local Jews feel connected. As your new editor, I hope to maintain that connection, continuing its legacy of strong storytelling and community building. We are living in a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the Jewish lens, and I hope to inspire conversations on both sides of the coin and to address the issues we face as Jews living in a post-Oct. 7 world. But more than that, I hope to bring more awareness to our amazing community, to shine a light on all the meaning we bring to South Florida, and to give you, the reader, a platform to share your stories, both big and small. The landscape of our local community is constantly changing. I had the pleasure of interviewing the new CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Igor Alterman, for my inaugural article in the Jewish Journal. We both expressed our shared goal of ushering in a new generation of South Florida Jews and creating a space for the ever-growing numbers of young families and young professionals moving into and growing up in our community. I aim to stay true to the generations who have come before and who laid the foundation for this publication, but to also grow alongside the younger generations and evolve the Jewish Journal into something we can all be proud of. I believe that its success lies within all of you, whether you are a lifelong reader or newly joining us. And I hope that together, we can continue to inspire others and write the narratives that deserve to be told. My inbox is always open — please feel free to reach out with your story, your ideas, or to simply say hello. We should never feel uneasy about telling our Jewish stories. I hope to make the Jewish Journal a space where we can tell them with confidence. Thank you for trusting me as your editor. I look forward to what's next. Jewish Journal editor Jessica Tzikas can be reached at jtzikas@
