by Toubassi Marwan,
fr. Ambassador of Palestine to Greece
While the world is preoccupied with pressing international and regional issues, several areas in Syria have witnessed Israeli military incursions in the past two days, along with horrific massacres committed by the forces and militias of al-Jawlani’s de facto regime. These massacres, justified under the pretext of targeting “remnants of the previous regime,” have led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent Syrians and are ongoing. These incursions and massacres are not isolated events; rather, they form part of the chaos and fragmentation imposed on Syria for years. This is a crucial aspect of a broader effort to reshape the region according to regional and international projects no less dangerous than direct colonialism—aimed at restructuring the area, seizing its vast resources of gas, oil, and minerals, exploiting its geopolitical importance, and controlling its water sources.
Although this article does not directly address the ongoing crisis in Palestine, where the Israeli occupation continues its crimes amid a concerning weakness in confronting them, I see a direct connection between what is happening in Syria and Palestine. Both are part of a broader American colonial project that seeks to dismantle states and redraw spheres of influence to serve Israeli and American interests. Just as the Zionist project in Palestine is implemented through settlement expansion, annexation, ethnic cleansing, and impending displacement, in Syria, it is executed through destruction, division, and the creation of entities subordinate to regional and international powers.
Al-Jawlani: From Terrorism to Legitimization?
Amid the marginalization of the supposed national conference in Syria, held without the participation of true national democratic forces, and the ongoing bloodshed, Ahmad al-Jawlani emerges as one of the most controversial figures. He has transformed from the leader of a terrorist Takfiri organization linked to al-Qaeda—an entity originally created by the United States in cooperation with Israel—into a figure now treated as a de facto authority and even a partner in Syria’s new arrangements.
The pressing question is: Why have some Arab countries rushed to engage with al-Jawlani despite his notorious past and the reality of the current situation?
Several factors have contributed to this shift, in my view:
- Fulfilling American objectives – Many Arab states lack sovereign decision-making and seek to appease Washington, often without any real strategic gain in return. This, in turn, enables the U.S. to solidify its regional plans, including its competition with Russia over a presence in Syria. Additionally, some Arab states are interested in investing in Syria’s reconstruction and its energy resources.
- Filling the power vacuum in northern Syria – With the complex military situation, some regional powers are looking for local actors to assume control, even if these actors are part of the original problem.
- Aligning with Turkey – Following improved relations between some Arab states and Turkey, there has been a shift toward supporting Turkish-backed entities in Syria. Al-Jawlani is among the most prominent figures in this arrangement.
- Countering Iranian influence – Some Arab capitals see al-Jawlani as a tool to counterbalance Iran’s influence in Syria, despite the uncertainty surrounding his independence from his external sponsors and handlers.
- American complicity – Despite previously designating al-Jawlani as a wanted terrorist, Washington is now ignoring his movements and even working with him. Some Arab states have followed suit, granting him legitimacy through visits and his participation in the Arab League summit. This signals a long-term strategy of integrating him into the new Syrian order and assigning him a functional role.
The Convergence of “Neo-Ottoman” and “Zionist-Israeli” Projects in Service of U.S. Hegemony
The current events in Syria are not merely an internal conflict or a campaign against remnants of the previous regime; rather, they are part of a broader strategy to entrench de facto rule through terrorism and reshape the region according to intersecting regional projects. These projects serve the larger framework of the New Middle East in the absence of a unified Arab national project.
The Turkish “Neo-Ottoman” project extends from northern Syria to its central and eastern regions, disregarding the Kurdish people’s right to self-determination. Ankara seeks to establish a permanent sphere of influence through local proxies like al-Jawlani and his militias.
The Israeli Zionist project, meanwhile, extends from southern to central Syria and into western areas, converging with Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon. Its objective is to dismantle Syria and prevent it from regaining its deterrence capabilities, especially after the destruction of much of the Syrian military’s infrastructure and Israel’s occupation of key positions inside Syrian territory. Additionally, Israel is intensifying its military and intelligence operations, engaging in resource theft, and attempting to distort the region’s historical heritage by forcibly imposing a Jewish narrative.
Thus, both the Turkish and Israeli projects align within the broader American strategy, aimed at keeping Syria fragmented and unable to pose a strategic threat to U.S. interests or Israeli hegemony—just as is happening in Palestine.
Will We See “Jawlanis” in Other Arab Countries?
If the process of rehabilitating al-Jawlani in Syria succeeds, it could become a model replicated in other Arab states suffering from weak central governance and internal conflicts. We may see similar figures being promoted elsewhere under different pretexts, leading to further division and the weakening of Arab states in favor of regional and international colonial projects.
The Dismantling Continues Unless It Is Confronted
What is happening in Syria is not just an internal crisis; it is part of a broader dismantling project—much like the attempt to impose a permanent division in Palestine by preventing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, maintaining the geographical separation between Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, and fomenting organized chaos.
If Arab states continue to passively accept the arrangements imposed by major colonial powers, they may soon find themselves facing new maps of disintegrated Arab nations, governed by local “Jawlanis” who serve foreign hegemonic agendas.
The key question remains: Will the Arabs recognize the severity of this trajectory, or are they unknowingly legitimizing forces that will later turn against them, accelerating the implementation of the “Greater Israel” project? This issue extends beyond just addressing the reconstruction of Gaza—though that is undoubtedly important. Rather, it requires a comprehensive and strategic Arab response to prevent the realization of the broader settler-colonial project engulfing the region.
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