Damascus, Syria – Two Republicans in the US Congress were in the Syrian capital on an informal visit hosted by a Syrian-American nonprofit.
Also on Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with the Syrian president on his first visit since the fall of Assad and his first visit since the start of the civil war that turned into the 2011 Syrian uprising.
Rep. Merlin Statzman of Indiana and Corey Mills of Florida visited the outskirts of Damascus in Jowar, the site of a historic synagogue that was heavily damaged and looted in the civil war, and the Christian neighborhood of Babu Tuma, where he met Christian religious leaders. They were also set up to meet Alshara and other government officials.
The Trump administration has yet to officially recognize the current Syrian government, led by Alshara, a former Muslim rebel who led the lightning bolt that overthrew Assad. Washington has yet to lift the harsh sanctions imposed during Assad’s control.
“It’s very important to come here for yourself, be with various government agencies, see the needs of the Syrian people, see the needs of the people of Syria, see the needs of the stability,” Mills, who is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Associated Press.
Mills said he hopes to discuss with Alshara to include the issues of sanctions, government priorities and the need for transitional administrations to move towards a “democratically elected society.”
“In the end, that will be the president’s decision,” he said, “Congress can advise,” whether or not the sanctions are lifted.
Members of Congress came at the invitation of the American Peace and Prosperity Alliance in Syria, an Indiana-based nonprofit organization. It describes its mission as a “sustainable political, economic and social partnership between the Syrian people and the American people.”
Syrian Minister of Social and Labour Hindqabawat is the only woman and serving in Christianity in the transition government, and joined the Congress team on a visit to Babu Tuma.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a statement on Friday, repeating warnings against US citizens visiting Syria. The State Department “tracks credible information related to the impending potential attack, including places frequented by tourists.”
Palestinian leaders visit when Israeli forces remain in Syria
WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, said his first visit to Abbas since 2007 was “to strengthen Palestine Syrian relations and discuss the imminent development of the region.”
Abbas and Alshara discussed the ongoing war in Gaza and international efforts to carry out long-term efforts to reach a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying they “agree to form a joint committee aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.”
Syria has a population of approximately 450,000 Palestinian refugees. The Yarmuk refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus was once widely considered the capital of the Palestinian diaspora before it was largely destroyed by the war.
Palestinian refugees in Syria have never been granted citizenship to maintain the right to return to their homes that fled or were evicted during the creation of the Israeli state in 1948. However, in contrast to neighbouring Lebanon, where Palestinians are prohibited from owning property or working in many occupations, Palestinians historically had all citizens’ rights except for the right to vote and inaugurate.
Syria has no diplomatic ties with Israel. New Syrian authorities have publicly said they have no interest in taking part in the conflict with Israel, but the Israeli government has skeptical viewed it as a former Muslim rebel force in the Damascus regime.
Israeli forces seized unpatrol buffer zones within Syria after rebels defeated Assad, and launched massive airstrikes on Syrian military facilities. Israeli officials say they will not allow new Syrian forces in southern Damascus.
