In brief
In a surprising turn of events, Henry Hamra, a Syrian Jew who left Damascus over three decades ago, has emerged as an advocate for thawing sanctions against Syria's new regime following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Accompanied by his father, Rabbi Yosef Hamra, the Hamra family returned to Syria to witness historic Jewish sites that suffered from years of neglect and destruction during the civil war. Their visit, made possible by the new leadership of the country, revealed crumbled relics including the ancient Jobar synagogue which they yearned to see restored.
The grave state of these sites has fueled the Hamras' push for U.S. sanctions relief, joining forces with Syrian American advocacy organizations that had previously opposed the Assad government. While they see potential in the new regime led by President Ahmed al-Shara, with roots in rebel movements, some organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee emphasize the need for a sustained demonstration of positive conduct from the government before any sanctions are reassessed.As discussions around these contentious issues unfold in Washington, the Hamras and other stakeholders remind the world of the complex legacies left by Syria’s prolonged conflict, and the challenging path to rebuilding their homeland.
