Discussion on Druze Sentiments in Sweida

I went to Suwayda, Mr. Socrates. And while I was there,

I heard from Druze people living in Suwayda that they are

Syrian and do not want secession. They have deep pain

over what happened to them in the bloody events that no one denies.

But I did not hear calls for secession that were widespread

and comprehensive throughout all of Suwayda.

Of course you will not hear that, because you have adopted a certain narrative, even.

Because when I was in Suwayda, because when I was in Suwayda, I was not adopting any—

I mean, we are the only channel that entered Suwayda and, by the way, entered

with a welcome, with a welcome from the people of Suwayda, from its leadership

and from everyone, and we tried to be objective. This—

This is not objective, this is not objective, but I am speaking to you

about one point. No, no. I want you to hear the point about press access.

Why were you the only ones who got in? Because of your orientation, Rasha.

Because since the invasion, we had been demanding that

the transitional authorities allow the impartial international press to enter.

In Suwayda, and they weren't letting anyone in.

Why did you specifically allow it?

Security did not approve my entry. By the way, you were the ones who allowed it.

You know very well. No, no, no, no, Engineer Socrates.

You know that anyone entering must have your approval, not security's approval.

No, no. One second. I will not go into these details because they are not

our subject.

Not my subject. Not my subject. Believe me.

No, no.

Not my subject.

You are misleading the viewers. It is our duty to respect

the viewers and give them accurate information, please.

We were the ones demanding that the international press be allowed in.

And to this day, you are preventing the international press from entering Suwayda.

Fine, I will not argue with you about this matter. My question now is for you.

No, no, this is not an argument, we are stating facts.

Fine, you say all of Suwayda wants secession.

No, not all of Suwayda wants secession.

This game of yours. I already told you, not everyone

Exactly. We are not obliged to go into these details.

Today, we have the overwhelming majority in As-Suwayda.

And that's why As-Suwayda has rallied around us.

Even "the overwhelming majority," logically, if we're talking about logic,

and you're an engineer, even "overwhelming majority" makes the proposition particular.

It doesn't make it universal, by the way. We're not speaking scientifically.

That's why.

Yes, that's why I didn't tell you everyone, because, to this day, we have

people in As-Suwayda whose allegiance is to Damascus and who are mercenaries.

We respect their views. They're entitled to them.