Syrian Foreign Minister Hassan Al-Shibani: Israel's existence "a proven fact" for everyone in region

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani said in an interview today (Thursday) that Israel is a proven reality not only for Syria, but also for its neighbors, according to Kann reporter Roi Kais.

Al-Shibani added that while Syria is presently focused on securing its borders and sovereignty within them "without violations," he said that in the future, "conditions permitting," Israel will be willing to conduct negotiations with the State of Israel.

For its part, the Israeli government remains highly suspicious of Syria's new rulers, considering them unreformed Jihadists putting on a moderate face for the west without a real change in policy. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has been particularly dismissive of the idea that the government can truly become democratic.

Sa'ar visited the Syrian border today, where he met with senior IDF officers and UNDOF personnel, and where he said that it was vital for the IDF to continue operating in southern Syria to protect Israel's borders until "the situation stabilizes" in Syria.