Spanish Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria Must End Violence Permanently

Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
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Spanish Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria Must End Violence Permanently

Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Asharq Al-Awsat ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels that European foreign ministers assured their Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani that the EU is committed to supporting the interim government to ensure humanitarian aid reaches all Syrians in need.

He confirmed that the EU would announce additional aid amounting to 10 million euros to address the basic needs of Syrian citizens.

Albares emphasized that, in return, there must be a definitive end to violence, respect for the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities, and the protection of women's rights.

Donors at a European Union-led conference on Monday pledged 5.8 billion euros ($6.3 billion) to help Syria's new authorities as they struggle with humanitarian and security problems after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Moreover, Albares expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached between the transitional government and the Kurds, paving the way for their full integration into Syria’s peaceful future.

Contrary to expectations ahead of the Brussels donors’ conference, the European Union did not reduce its pledges to Syria but instead committed approximately 2.7 billion dollars (2.5 billion euros) for 2025 and 2026.

The majority of this funding will come in the form of direct aid through international agencies and humanitarian organizations, with no involvement from the transitional government.

The latter had insisted on sending a clear message, through Shaibani, rejecting any “foreign agendas” being imposed on Syria, according to sources at the conference.

Discussions at the conference focused on a “comprehensive peaceful transition” and reaching a political solution to ensure a stable future for Syria.

The challenges of poverty, hunger, lack of education, and the deterioration of critical infrastructure, especially in health, education, and banking sectors, were also addressed.

Sources revealed that the US withdrew from the donor group, despite the presence of American organizations and individuals at the conference.

The general atmosphere at the conference was described as positive and calm, with efforts focused on pushing the reconstruction process forward in Syria.

However, the aid provided remains minimal, covering less than 1% of Syria’s estimated $350-$400 billion reconstruction needs.



Thousands Join Anti-government Rally in Jerusalem

The protest is the largest to take place in Jerusalem for several months - AFP
The protest is the largest to take place in Jerusalem for several months - AFP
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Thousands Join Anti-government Rally in Jerusalem

The protest is the largest to take place in Jerusalem for several months - AFP
The protest is the largest to take place in Jerusalem for several months - AFP

Thousands of protesters massed in Jerusalem on Wednesday, chanting slogans against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who they accuse of undermining democracy and resuming Gaza strikes without regard for hostages.

Protesters shouted "You are the head, and you're to blame" as well as "The blood is on your hands" at the demonstration near parliament, the largest to take place in Jerusalem for months, AFP reported.

The demonstration was organized by anti-Netanyahu opposition groups protesting the premier's move to sack Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, AFP reported.

Following Netanyahu's announcement to dismiss Bar, which threatened to trigger political crisis, Israel launched a wave of overnight strikes on Gaza, by far the deadliest since the start of a fragile ceasefire in January.

Relatives of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza joined the rally outside the parliament in Jerusalem.

"We hope all people from Israel will join this movement and we will not stop until we restore democracy and freedom for the hostages," said Zeev Berar, 68, from Tel Aviv.

"At this rate we won't have a country left, not a democratic one. It will be a dictatorship," student Roni Sharon, 18, told AFP.

Some in the crowd brandished banners reading: "We are all hostages".

Relatives of the hostages in the Gaza Strip have said the decision to resume strikes could "sacrifice" their loved ones.

Of the 251 hostages seized during the unprecedented October 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

The demonstrators in Jerusalem also accuse Netanyahu of using the war against Hamas to distract from domestic political concerns.

The prime minister has so far refused to set up a national commission of inquiry into Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, while his bid to dismiss Bar threatened to plunge Israel back into deep political crisis.

Netanyahu's government recently also moved to oust Israel's attorney general and government judiciary adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, a fierce defendant of the judiciary's independence.

A 2023 judicial reform project aimed at curbing the supreme court's powers fractured the country and sparked major protests -- before coming to an abrupt halt with Hamas's October 7 attack.

"The last two years have been a nightmare for us," said Yael Baron, 55, from the city of Modiin.

"I feel as though we are in the 99th minute and time is running out to save the country, the oxygen is running out for us, like democracy is running out."