Atwan: Factors that are leading to the failure of the ceasefire in Sweida.
Abdul Bari Atwan, editor of the trans-regional newspaper Rai al-Youm and a prominent Palestinian analyst, referred to the fragile ceasefire in Sweida province in his new article on developments in Syria, writing: There is no doubt that reaching a ceasefire agreement in the most dangerous current crisis facing the “new Syria” was a positive step towards stopping the bloodshed and sectarian clashes in the Druze city of Sweida.
Factors leading to the failure of the ceasefire in Sweida
Atwan added: “However, despite the commitments of most parties to observe the ceasefire, the chances of its success and stability seem limited. Here are a few key points to consider, and these factors increase doubts about the chances of a ceasefire in Sweida succeeding:
– The government supporting the agreement, or rather the government that pushed for this agreement, was the United States, which reacted to the intervention of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar and became concerned about the consequences of continuing the clashes in Sweida. But so far, all the ceasefire agreements concluded by the US in the region, especially in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, have collapsed due to Washington’s direct cooperation and collusion with the Zionist regime.
-The Zionist regime has accepted the ceasefire agreement in words, but its real intention is to defeat the agreement, because the ceasefire contradicts Israel’s main plans to divide Syria and spread chaos in the country. That is why the Zionist regime ordered Sheikh Hekmat Al-Hijri, its puppet in Sweida, who enjoys the support of the city’s media, to immediately reject the ceasefire agreement and declare the continuation of the war. He also ordered his supporters to execute several Arab tribal prisoners, and with Israel’s approval and order, they hanged these prisoners in the center of the city.
-Due to the official cowardice of the Arab regimes, Israel, through its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that “it was Israel that overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad and, after disarming Syria, is seeking complete control over the south of this country.” Therefore, the elimination of armed Arab tribal groups in the southern provinces of Syria will be the main priority of the Zionist regime, which means the resumption of fighting.
-Sectivism has dominated the new Syria, and the tribal differences between the Druze and Bedouin tribes are much deeper than can be resolved with a fragile ceasefire. It is true that the majority of Syrian Druze, led by Sheikh Yusuf Jarbu, strongly insist on the Arab identity of Sweida and consider it a Syrian city and part of the fabric of Syria, and support the presence of military and security forces there. But another group of Druze, led by Sheikh Al-Hijri, are acting completely in line with the orders of the Zionist regime and enjoy the unwavering support of this regime in terms of money, weapons, and military equipment. Sheikh Al-Hijri may even become a leader in the coming days for whom the red carpet will be rolled out in Arab capitals.