Israel and Syria in U.S.-Brokered Talks to End Border Conflict, Trump Envoy Says
Mr. Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, said in an interview with The New York Times that the administration wanted Syria to join the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab states during Mr. Trumpβs first term. But Mr. Barrack cautioned that this could take time because Syriaβs new president, Ahmed al-Shara, could face resistance at home.
βHe cannot be seen by his own people to be forced or coerced into the Abraham Accords,β Mr. Barrack said. βSo he has to work slowly.β
Progress on democratization and inclusive government will not happen quickly, Mr. Barrack said, and are not part of the U.S. criteria.
American officials have expressed concerns about the thousands of fighters who came to Syria from abroad to take part in the war, mostly as part of jihadist groups.
Mr. Barrack said Washington realized that Syria could not expel those who remained and that they could pose a threat to the new government if they were excluded. So the Trump administration instead expects transparency about the roles they are given
Last month, he delivered a proposal from Mr. Rubio that Mr. Barrack said outlined to Lebanonβs government, with specific objectives and timelines, how to disarm Hezbollahβs forces and fix the countryβs economy. He is expected to receive a reply next week.
Disarming Hezbollah would require βcarrots and sticks,β he said, and involved the Lebanese Army searching house to house for weapons.
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