Israel’s goal in Syria limited to maintaining status quo in southern Syria — minister

Israel wants to preserve the status quo in southern Syria and make sure its borders are secure, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, Report informs via TASS.

"Our interests in Syria are known, limited and clear. The first is to preserve the status quo in southern Syria, near our border, and to prevent threats to Israel in the area. The second is to prevent harm to the Druze community, with whom we, the Druze citizens of Israel, have a strong and enduring bond," he said.

According to the minister, following the change of government Syria exhibits a "phenomenon that has been repeated over and over again: the persecution of minorities that reaches the point of murder and pogroms." Saar mentioned that violence in Syria previously targeted the Kurds, Christians, Alawites and Druze.

"Sometimes it is done by the regime, sometimes the jihadist gangs that are its pillars, but most often by both of them," he said.

The Israeli minister questioned the legitimacy of the new government in Damascus, saying it didn’t come to power through an election.

"This is not a democratically elected regime. Sometimes when I am in diplomatic meetings, they talk to me about a ‘transit of power,’ but this is a regime that seized power by force, coming to the Damascus area from Idlib, taking advantage of certain circumstances. The constitution he is promoting is undemocratic and has been rejected by large segments of the population," Saar said.

According to the official, from the Israeli perspective, "any violation of Israeli interests in Syria can’t go unanswered."

"I am convinced that if the regime in Damascus does not come to its senses, it will eventually drift away from all the goals it has set for itself - above all, a better governance of the country and its economic prosperity. So, it will be wise if Damascus comes to its senses and order is restored," Saar said.