MIDDLE EAST

NPR -  A high-ranking Syrian official told NPR he wants his country to have cordial ties with Israel and wants the U.S. to help facilitate them. This is not commonly heard from an Arab-led government, especially one made up of rebels who once had ties to al-Qaida. The statement made by the newly appointed governor of Damascus, Maher Marwan, sent shockwaves throughout the region.  In the interview with NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi, Marwan said it was natural that when rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took power Israel felt some fear. Marwan continued by saying Syria couldn’t be an opponent to Israel and wanted co-existence. The U.S. has relayed the message to Israel. The Israeli foreign ministry said it rejected any overture from HTS. Syria and Israel have been in a state of war since Israel’s creation in 1948 and have never had diplomatic ties. Marwan has since issued a video distancing himself from the comments he made to NPR.