The Jewish community in Syria was once one of the largest and most important Jewish communities in the Middle East. According to estimates, only 20–30 Jews remain from the once-large Syrian Jewish community. A source from the Jewish community in Damascus shared this morning (Sunday) that on the first day after the rebels seized control, there was anarchy and looting, but the Jews were unharmed. “I’m here in Damascus, and no one entered Jewish properties or synagogues,” the source told Kan News.
Despite the religious extremism of the rebels, the source expressed optimism: “In the past few days, I walked down the street, and one of the rebels said hello to me. Everything is routine. It might be better than it was.” The Syrian Jew also mentioned being content during Assad’s rule, saying, “Even now, everything is fine.”
“The Situation in Syria Does Not Allow for New Conflicts”
Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of the Syrian rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, stated yesterday that “the situation in Syria, exhausted from years of fighting, does not allow for new conflicts,” possibly referring to a potential confrontation with Israel. Al-Julani added, “Our top priorities are reconstruction and stability, not getting dragged into new conflicts that would lead to further destruction.”
On the other hand, al-Julani claimed that Israel’s concerns about a border threat are unfounded and “do not justify the recent violations of Syrian sovereignty.”
