Palestine–Syria relations
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Syrian–Palestinian relations refers to the official relations between Syria and Palestine. Palestine has an embassy in Damascus, but Syria has no official representative office in Palestine.
History[]
The two countries share a strong historical bond, as both were together used to be under Phoenicians,[1] and later subjected by various occupations and wars, spanned from the Persian Empire, Roman Empire, Arabs, Crusaders and the Ottoman Empire.[2] However, in 20th century, Syria and Palestine would be later carved and divided between France and the British Empire, and this would remain until the end of World War II.
Modern relations[]
Syria soon announced its complete support to Palestine after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War broke out, and had sent troops to fight against newly-formed Israel Defense Forces, but it failed to change the tie, and later also failed to get a peace talk.[3] Since then, with the influx of Palestinian refugees to Syria, relationship between Syria and Palestine became very complex, while mainly brotherly, also share significant differences.
Syria also joined the Six-Day War hoping to expel Israeli Army in order to restore Palestinian state, in which ended with a complete failure. This failed war drastically and radically changed Syrian and Palestinian society. For Syrians, the failure damaged their reputation, and subsequently created further mistrusts despite still maintaining good relationship.[4]
Hafez al-Assad was known for his hostility towards Yasser Arafat and Faisal Husseini, with attempts to divide the Palestinian leadership.[5]
Syrian Civil War[]
The Syrian Civil War created divisions among Palestinians over the Assad regime in Syria.
Despite this level of Palestinian hostility towards the PLO, caused by the Hafez al-Assad Government in the past, Bashar al-Assad however still gained popular support among Palestinians due to his pro-Palestinian rhetoric speeches.[6]
Some Palestinians have accused Assad of enabling torture and murder of Palestinians,[7] and recently, the demolition of Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, notably in Yarmouk.[8] Assad was further accused of allowing rape and torture of Palestinians.[9]
Palestinians in Syria[]
There were over more than 500.000 Palestinians in Syria, mostly refugees, before the outbreak of Syrian Civil War.[10]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "What was Historical Syria and Phoenicia? Is there confusion?". phoenicia.org.
- ^ "HISTORY OF SYRIA AND PALESTINE". www.historyworld.net.
- ^ "Lost Opportunities for Peace in the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Israel and Syria, 1948-2001". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
- ^ Bowen, Jeremy (5 June 2017). "1967 war: Six days that changed the Middle East" – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Palestinians and the Assad regime: for history and generations to know". Middle East Monitor. 8 July 2014.
- ^ "Bashar Al_Assad - THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE". www.presidentassad.net.
- ^ "Monitoring Group: Over 35 Female Palestinian-Syrians Killed under Torture in Assad Prisons". Syrian National Coalition Of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces.
- ^ Sanchez, Raf (26 April 2018). "Palestinian refugee camp in Syria turns 'unimaginably brutal' as Assad regime drives Isil out of Yarmouk" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "'Assad regime tortured, electrocuted and raped Palestinian detainees'". Middle East Monitor. 14 January 2019.
- ^ "Palestine Refugees in Syria: A Recurring Tragedy". The Elders. 25 November 2015.
- Bilateral relations of the State of Palestine
- State of Palestine–Syria relations
- Bilateral relations of Syria