Foundational Principles & Strategic Positioning
The ShamShalom Project operates from a Syrian-led perspective grounded in national interest, security, and public accountability. We believe that secrecy and shadow negotiations with Israel have historically served authoritarian regimes and foreign agendas — not the Syrian people. Our aim is to create a transparent, civil, and strategic space where Syrians can reflect, prepare, and explore post-conflict regional futures without fear or manipulation.
We do not seek to impose a specific outcome on the future of Syrian–Israeli affairs — whether normalization, continued separation, or any other defined framework. That decision belongs to the Syrian people — and must be determined through transparent, democratic processes. Our work is grounded in the belief that Syrians deserve the right to explore all strategic futures, including those that challenge taboos or break with past state narratives. While some may oppose engagement, others support it — and their voices matter too. ShamShalom exists to give space to those voices, and to prepare Syrian civil society for a post-conflict era where real public debate and foreign policy choices are possible.
Diplomatic engagement is not endorsement — it is preparation. We believe in equipping Syrians to face tomorrow’s complex regional realities with agency, foresight, and justice. Our engagement at diplomatic or quasi-diplomatic levels is intended to prevent further loss of life and to transition Syria from survival to strategic reconstruction through justice-rooted, inclusive dialogue.
Mission Statement
The ShamShalom Project is a Syrian-led think tank, initiative, and civil society organization that explores the complex realities and potential futures of Syrian–Israeli affairs. Through research, dialogue, and community-based reflection, we seek to break imposed silences, unpack dominant narratives, and prepare for post-conflict scenarios where Syrians must shape their own regional positions — including on Syrian–Israeli affairs. We create space for critical, conflict-aware engagement rooted in dignity, autonomy, and long-term strategic thinking. We also foster cautious, context-sensitive collaboration with Israeli Track II actors to address shared challenges and develop joint analyses of the region’s future.
Vision
To foster a future where Syrians engage regional complexity with clarity, courage, and agency — including on Syrian–Israeli affairs. We envision a space where civil society and political actors from both sides can, despite historic enmity, critically engage with each other to address shared concerns, generate knowledge, and lay groundwork for future coexistence rooted in accountability, mutual recognition, and human dignity.
Objectives
- Strategic Research and Analysis — operates as an independent think tank producing analysis on Syrian–Israeli affairs.
- Narrative and Memory Work — unpack histories with space for collaborative contributions.
- Dialogue Facilitation — platform for conflict-sensitive civil society engagement.
- Joint Civic Engagement — shared projects on displacement, justice, environmental issues.
- Capacity Building and Foresight — empower Syrians to plan and lead future-oriented regional thinking.
- Track II Diplomacy — people-to-people diplomacy, including dialogues led by academics, former officials, and community leaders exploring post-conflict Syrian–Israeli affairs.
- Religious Engagement — engage religious voices and institutions in fostering mutual understanding and reconciliation across faith lines.