Christians in Syria marked the first Sunday services since Bashar Assad’s government collapse with tears and hope. The small Christian population hopes new messages of inclusion will ring true.
The U.N. envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for an end to Western sanctions as rebel leaders consider their next move. Syrians have been under isolating sanctions for years due to Assad’s brutal response to peaceful protests.
Schools in Damascus reopened, and teachers hoisted the three-starred revolutionary flag. School director Maysoun Al-Ali said: “God willing, there will be more development, security, and construction.”
However, challenges complicate rebuilding. The new leadership has not outlined a clear vision for governance, and some groups are designated as terrorist organizations by Western countries.
The U.S. is considering removing the terror designation from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was once an al-Qaida affiliate. Arab foreign ministers have called for U.N.-supervised elections based on a new constitution.
Israel said it has no interest in conflict with Syria and will follow “the emerging reality on the ground.” The Israeli government approved a plan to encourage population growth in the Golan Heights, which Qatar criticized as an “Israeli aggression.”
Syrians are also hoping for greater respect for minority groups, particularly Christians. Last Sunday’s church services were canceled due to fear of Islamist insurgents, but they resumed this week.
The new government faces many challenges, including preventing terror groups from taking hold and securing chemical weapons. An emergency meeting with foreign ministers agreed that all parties should cease hostilities in Syria.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sanctions-un-3f0031108d7e58c2343bd6a8fd42254c