Al-Sharaa's Golan remark: I told Trump, 'Give New Jersey to Israel'

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shared his assessments on Syria's domestic and foreign policy at an Atlantic Council panel held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Recounting the remarks he made during his meeting with US President Donald Trump regarding the Golan Heights, Al-Sharaa said, "I jokingly told Trump, 'New Jersey is under your ownership; if you want, give that to Israel, but the Golan has real owners. It is not yours to donate to someone else.'"

The session, moderated by former US diplomat Brett McGurk, was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Hassan Assad al-Shaibani, the US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack, as well as İhlas Holding Chairman of the Board and Atlantic Council Board Member Ahmet Mücahid Ören.

GOLAN AND CONTACTS WITH ISRAEL

Al-Sharaa stated that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory according to UN resolutions and cannot be transferred. Addressing direct contacts with Israel mediated by the US, Al-Sharaa argued that in some rounds, an agreement was 90 percent reached, but the Israeli side took a step back.

The Syrian leader noted that the priority should be withdrawal from territories occupied after December 8, 2024, and security arrangements. Al-Sharaa expressed that it is important to address the security framework and the new situation on the ground in contacts with Israel.

FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE AND TRANSITION PROCESS

Responding to questions about foreign military presence in Syria, Al-Sharaa said regarding the Turkish military presence, "Turkish forces entered Syria to ensure border security and under extraordinary conditions where violent clashes were taking place in the region." Stating that there has been a reduction in the Turkish military presence and bases in the northwest, Al-Sharaa reported that negotiations are underway with Ankara to clarify the legal status of this presence.

Al-Sharaa emphasized that any foreign military presence in the country must be subject to parliamentary approval and placed within a legal framework that protects Syria's sovereignty. He said that Russian military points have been reduced from 170 to 2, and that they are in the final stages of negotiations to convert these points into training centers. He described the US troop withdrawal process as the "most successful and orderly evacuation."

Stating that the transition period has been set for 5 years, Al-Sharaa noted that work on a new constitution will be completed during this process. Expressing that presidential powers should not turn into a permanent governance model, Al-Sharaa said, "If conditions require it and if it is necessary for the security of our people, I would not hesitate to run in future presidential elections; I would be among the candidates."

Stating that Decree No. 13, which guarantees the cultural and linguistic rights of Kurds, will be included in the new constitution, Al-Sharaa noted that the SDF has been dissolved and integrated into state institutions. Regarding regional relations, he mentioned that strategic projects are being carried out for the reactivation of the oil pipeline with Iraq and for port connections.

Al-Sharaa also said they support strengthening state authority and ensuring arms control in Lebanon. He stated that a national committee formed with international experts is continuing its work to determine the fate of missing persons, including US journalist Austin Tice.