Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar speaks next to High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, and EU commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica as they hold a press conference on the day of an EU-Israel Association Council with European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has dismissed any hope for real change in Syria despite the formation of a new government, calling for “realistic expectations” in Europe and labeling talks of regime transition as “ridiculous.”

During a meeting in Brussels of the EU-Israel Association Council, which oversees the European bloc’s relationship with the Jewish state, Sa’ar described the recently formed Syrian government of Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda terrorist known also as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani who led the overthrow of the Assad regime, as “a jihadist Islamist terror group from Idlib that took Damascus by force.”

“We are all happy that Assad is out. But we must have realistic expectations,” Sa’ar said during a press conference with EU officials on Monday, referring to long-time Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. “The Islamists speak softly. Just check how Iran spoke in 1979.”

Last month, Sharaa became Damascus’s transitional president after leading a rebel campaign that ousted Assad, whose brutal and authoritarian Iran-backed rule had strained ties with the Arab world during the nearly 14-year Syrian war.

The collapse of Assad’s regime was the result of an offensive spearheaded by Sharaa’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former al Qaeda affiliate.

According to an announcement made by the military command which led the offensive against Assad, Sharaa was empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period and the Syrian constitution was suspended.

“But everyone knows who al-Sharaa is. Not only are they [Syria’s new government] not inclusive, they are exacting vengeance on Alawites. They are harming the Kurds,” Sa’ar said on Monday, warning of the threat posed to not only Syria’s minority groups but also Israel, which shares a border with Syria.

“We will not compromise the security on our border. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are acting in Syria to create another front against Israel there,” Israel’s top diplomat continued, referring to the two main Iran-backed terrorist groups in Gaza.

Following Assad’s fall in December, Israel moved troops into a buffer zone along the Syrian border to secure a military position to prevent terrorists from launching attacks against the Jewish state. The previously demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights was established under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Damascus and Jerusalem that ended the Yom Kippur War.

Syria’s new government and UN officials have called for Israel to withdraw its forces.

On Sunday, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate the presence of HTS or any forces affiliated with Syria’s new rulers south of Damascus and demanded the area be demilitarized.

“Take note: We will not allow HTS forces or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu said.

On Monday, Sa’ar also stated that Israel’s weakening of the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah played a key role in Assad’s removal from power in Syria, presenting “an opportunity for positive change in Lebanon.”

“There is an opportunity for the transformation of Lebanon from Iranian occupation to the pragmatic Arab camp,” Sa’ar said. However, he warned that “money from Iran is being moved to Lebanon with the aid of Turkey, through Istanbul.”

The Association Council convened for the first time since its last meeting in 2022 amid ongoing tensions between the EU and Israel over the status of Jerusalem and the West Bank. The EU views Israel’s presence in these areas as illegal, a position Israel has opposed, while also advocating for Palestinian statehood, which the Israeli government rejects at this time.

During the meeting, Sa’ar referred to these tensions in EU-Israel relations, arguing that they should not affect the Association Council’s work.

“We proved over the past 16 months Israel is a pillar of strength and stability in the turbulent Middle East. We are the only democracy in the Middle East … We must work together to safeguard democracy, world order and stability,” Israeli foreign minister said.

“Our relations should not be held hostage to the bitter conflict we have with our Palestinian neighbors.”