jordan pulse -

Lawyer Mohammad Al-Sbihi

The Ukrainian hurries to Damascus, laden with tons of golden wheat and unprecedented overflowing goodwill, in defiance of the somber Russian observer. The next day, the Damascene sits alongside the French minister, the granddaughter of General Henri Gouraud, who occupied Damascus in 1921, stood at the grave of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, and infamously kicked it, saying: “Wake up, Salah al-Din. We are back. My presence here signifies the triumph of the cross over the crescent.” Gouraud was the first to administratively divide Syria along sectarian lines, separating Druze, Alawites, and urban populations into distinct administrations. He had previously applied similar tactics in Morocco, dividing Arabs and Berbers to sow discord. Gouraud also championed the military doctrine of "attack until annihilation," which the French army used extensively in Africa, particularly in Algeria.

Returning to our scene, the Damascene sits with the French minister on his right and the German minister on his left, flanked by two interpreters—one translating French and the other German.

The Frenchwoman rushed to Syria, not for political or economic interests, but driven by her tender heart and humanitarian concerns. She sought to advocate for minority rights that General Gouraud himself had entrenched, and to promote democracy for all. On the surface, France appears to act out of altruism and civilisation, without expecting gratitude or compensation.

As for the elegant German, his visit remains puzzling. Germany has no significant interests or nationals in Syria since its ancestors departed alongside Ottoman soldiers after their defeat in World War I. Nevertheless, the German minister expressed concern for Syria’s minorities and pledged humanitarian support for the Syrian people. Germany plans to provide this assistance in moderation—especially since it has been supplying Israel continuously for the past 15 months to confront the "terrorism" of Gaza’s oppressors targeting Israel’s "peaceful" and "innocent" population.

What brought the German and the Frenchwoman together in Syria?

One objective lies beneath the surface: a complete Russian withdrawal from Syria and curbing Turkish influence, all under the guise of preserving Syrian independence and sovereignty. Of course, this aligns with the legacy of Mr. Sykes and Mr. Picot.

In our Jordanian dialect, we’d say: "Yukhreb Beitkom" (Shame on you), you come to celebrate a new house and its new occupant empty-handed? At least the Ukrainian didn’t come empty-handed—he brought wheat! Couldn’t you bring even a few French croissants or a pack of German chocolates? Instead, you claim to care about the rights of Druze, Alawites, Ismailis, democracy, and social harmony in Syria.

Madam Frenchwoman, Sir German, you’ve got the wrong address. The coordinates were skewed, likely due to Israeli interference. The correct destination lies slightly southwest: Tel Aviv. That’s where genocide is happening, where Palestinian rights are trampled. If you cannot stop the genocide, at least stop the generous aid and support.

As for Syria’s new leader, let him propose this: a complete Russian withdrawal from Syria in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights to the 1967 borders.