🔸 Al-Sharaa says Israel talks neared agreement and Russian bases were reduced: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Syria seeks full sovereignty and the removal of all foreign military bases. He said his government inherited Russia’s military presence upon arriving in Damascus and pursued dialogue that reduced approximately 170 Russian bases to two.
According to al-Sharaa, the remaining facilities were converted into training bases for the Syrian Army and cannot oversee or provide logistical support for operations against other countries.
Al-Sharaa said several rounds of negotiations with Israel brought the sides close to an agreement: “We almost reached 90% of an agreement.” He said Israel subsequently withdrew, citing various reasons, but engagement continues. He stressed that this does not mean lasting peace is imminent and that Syrians’ security and rights must be protected before peace can be discussed.
He accused Israel of creating more problems in the name of its security and argued that mutual respect and economic cooperation offer the best route to stable relations with its neighbors.
Recalling a White House visit, al-Sharaa said that when President Trump told him “the Golan Heights belongs to Israel,” he responded jokingly: “Why don't you give New Jersey to the Israelis? You don't own the Golan Heights to give, but you own New Jersey.” He said the joke also referenced his belief that New Jersey is full of Democrats who do not vote for President Trump.
Beyond the joke, al-Sharaa asserted that the Golan Heights belongs to its own people and that neither the Syrian president, the American president nor anyone else has the right to abandon it or give it away.
⚠️ IDF returns 14 activists after illegal Syria crossing: Fourteen Israeli activists illegally crossed into Syria near Alonei Habashan, according to the IDF. Troops located them, returned them to Israeli territory and detained them before handing them over to police.
The activists belong to Bashan Pioneers, which advocates Israeli settlements in southern Syria. The incident follows an increase in the group’s attempted crossings in recent months. No charges have been filed against its members, who have also received support from coalition lawmakers despite their illegal actions.
“The IDF strongly condemns the incident, which constitutes another serious disruption of operational activity and poses a danger to the safety of IDF troops operating in the area,” the military said. It called on law enforcement authorities to bring those involved to justice and prevent repeat offenses.
Bashan Pioneers said: “After we realized that there is support for the idea of legal Israeli settlement in the Bashan [area], both from the political side and from actors on the ground, but that they are not enough to bring things to implementation, the activists decided to return and push from below, in the hope that we will soon reach actual settlement.”
🔹 Lieberman proposes Jordanian administration of Areas A and B: Lieberman told Besheva: “We must reach an understanding with the Jordanians that they will administer Areas A and B in terms of security and civilian affairs.”
He also said: “Netanyahu has no right to preach morality. We need to reach an agreement with Jordan for it to administer Areas A and B — an Israeli-Jordanian confederation.”
Meanwhile, King Abdullah of Jordan, whose country would be central to the proposal, criticized Israel in a UN speech: “Israel is trying to dispossess an entire population in the West Bank; its expansionist ambitions in the region know no bounds.”
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