“Lebanon Debate”
Mystery surrounds what is happening between Damascus and Suwayda, amid leaks about direct and secret negotiations with the spiritual authority of the Druze Unitarian sect, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri. However, journalist Jawad Al-Sayegh denies this story, stressing that there is no direct dialogue between the two parties, but rather indirect communications taking place through a third party.
According to Al-Sayegh, these communications do not yet address the security and military files, but rather focus on life and humanitarian issues that put pressure on the people of the governorate.
Among the most prominent files raised are the return of the forcibly disappeared, the opening of mass graves associated with the victims of the July events, in addition to a gradual withdrawal from towns in the northern and western countryside, in addition to the file of education and taking exams for Suwayda students.
As for talking about repeating the model of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army, and applying it to the National Guard in Suwayda, Al-Sayegh places it outside the framework of the current reality, considering that the security and military decisions in the governorate are exclusively linked to Israel.
On the other hand, Al-Sayegh believes that media talk about direct negotiations may serve political goals, including preparing a supportive environment for Damascus in the face of possible concessions in the Suwayda file, and trying to create a division within the governorate over the ceiling of its demands.
While channels for indirect negotiation remain open, larger questions still remain: Are contacts limited to humanitarian files? Or does it later pave the way for a broader understanding that will redraw Suwayda’s relationship with Damascus?
