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Terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between Al-Hijri and the Syrian Administration
The spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, Hikmat Al-Hijri, has reached a “ten-point understanding” with the new Syrian administration in Damascus, primarily aimed at "operating institutions" and addressing issues of concern to citizens in the Suwaida province.
Details of this understanding were revealed through a document published by several local news networks following a meeting held between Al-Hijri and the Syrian administration's envoy to Suwaida, Mustafa Al-Bakur, at the "Dar Qanawat" on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by several figures who participated in the recent "National Dialogue Conference" held in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Content of the "Memorandum of Understanding
According to the "Memorandum of Understanding," the Syrian administration committed to implementing several clauses in cooperation with the people of Suwaida, including "immediately activating the judicial authority, enhancing the police and security file within the Ministry of Interior, and organizing defecting officers and individuals and all armed factions within the Ministry of Defense."
The understanding also included "the immediate payment of all overdue salaries for employees, and reconsideration of all those dismissed from work before December 8, 2024, with priority for employment for those who were arbitrarily dismissed before this date."
Additionally, the "Memorandum of Understanding" stipulated the "reform of state institutions from a financial and administrative perspective, and expediting the appointment of members of the temporary executive office to address employees' affairs," along with clauses related to "maintaining civil peace, preventing encroachments on public and private property, and removing violations on state property and roads within a studied plan."
The signatories of the understanding considered themselves a "follow-up committee" for its implementation, emphasizing the necessity of "continuing consultation and finding solutions for any new developments or issues not covered" in the memorandum.
Despite this, the "Memorandum of Understanding" is considered the first public step connecting Sheikh Al-Hijri with the new Syrian administration in Damascus. However, some journalists who spoke to the "Al-Hurra" website noted that "it cannot be considered a comprehensive agreement."
In this context, journalist Diyaa Al-Sahnaoui stated that the mentioned clauses have been worked on for three months and are still valid. He added, "What happened was the documentation of the clauses in a complete document between Sheikh Al-Hijri and representatives of the new administration."
For his part, Rayan Maarouf, editor-in-chief of the "Suwaida 24" network, highlighted that "the Memorandum of Understanding denies the existence of an absolute rift" between Al-Hijri, the spiritual presidency, and the new Syrian administration. He pointed out that "the Memorandum of Understanding is not a comprehensive agreement or a final solution, but rather an understanding that includes a series of requests from the new administration that were presented in the presence of Al-Hijri."
