Sebastian Usher

I mean, there are, and this is a sign of that, that even with the deal supposedly done and dusted, there's still issues about it. In 16 days from Sunday, if it goes into effect, the negotiations on the next phase will begin.

I mean, there are, and this is a sign of that, that even with the deal supposedly done and dusted, there's still issues about it. In 16 days from Sunday, if it goes into effect, the negotiations on the next phase will begin.

And they've been left, I think, purposefully open in order not to close down the space in which Hamas and Israel would be able to agree to that ceasefire, the hope being in any... thing like this. But once a ceasefire is in place, the momentum will build that it will then become very difficult to move away from that.

And they've been left, I think, purposefully open in order not to close down the space in which Hamas and Israel would be able to agree to that ceasefire, the hope being in any... thing like this. But once a ceasefire is in place, the momentum will build that it will then become very difficult to move away from that.

But there are certainly voices inside Israel that are saying that's not what we believe should happen. And they're voices that Ms Netanyahu has listened to before. So yes, there are big, big challenges. In some ways, the hardest work of negotiation will begin in the next two or three weeks.

But there are certainly voices inside Israel that are saying that's not what we believe should happen. And they're voices that Ms Netanyahu has listened to before. So yes, there are big, big challenges. In some ways, the hardest work of negotiation will begin in the next two or three weeks.

Just a week ago, anyone taking the Mazna border crossing from Lebanon into Syria only needed their passport to be waved through with a smile by border guards who'd taken over from officials appointed under Bashar al-Assad's rule. That's just changed to some degree, with Lebanese nationals now needing a Syrian residency permit or official permission to enter.

Just a week ago, anyone taking the Mazna border crossing from Lebanon into Syria only needed their passport to be waved through with a smile by border guards who'd taken over from officials appointed under Bashar al-Assad's rule. That's just changed to some degree, with Lebanese nationals now needing a Syrian residency permit or official permission to enter.

It could be in response to recent border incidents, including a clash between armed Syrians and Lebanese troops. But it may also be a tit-for-tat measure for Lebanon, already only allowing Syrians with Lebanese residency into the country. Either way, it means that taxis are no longer able to drive the whole route between Beirut and Damascus.

It could be in response to recent border incidents, including a clash between armed Syrians and Lebanese troops. But it may also be a tit-for-tat measure for Lebanon, already only allowing Syrians with Lebanese residency into the country. Either way, it means that taxis are no longer able to drive the whole route between Beirut and Damascus.

Last night I was at a New Year's Eve party, which was moving, as so many things have been, to watch people who haven't, in some cases, met each other for many years –

Last night I was at a New Year's Eve party, which was moving, as so many things have been, to watch people who haven't, in some cases, met each other for many years –

thinking they would never be able to do so, if at all, in Damascus, in Syria, suddenly there, on New Year's Eve, and the embraces, the hugs, the surprise on some people's faces at who had shown up, film directors who'd gone into exile, actors, similar journalists, being imprisoned.

thinking they would never be able to do so, if at all, in Damascus, in Syria, suddenly there, on New Year's Eve, and the embraces, the hugs, the surprise on some people's faces at who had shown up, film directors who'd gone into exile, actors, similar journalists, being imprisoned.

Now back, this sense that on every street corner, these people who are back to experience this heady moment might bump into someone who they hadn't seen for so long.

Now back, this sense that on every street corner, these people who are back to experience this heady moment might bump into someone who they hadn't seen for so long.

Yes. I mean, obviously, the Alawites, the community to which the Assads belonged and which, you know, to a lesser or greater extent, benefited perhaps most from their rule over in the West. I mean, we've seen unrest there. We've seen issues, as you would expect there. Not yet on a level that I think would really cause imminent fear in people in Syria or outside. But there's that.

Yes. I mean, obviously, the Alawites, the community to which the Assads belonged and which, you know, to a lesser or greater extent, benefited perhaps most from their rule over in the West. I mean, we've seen unrest there. We've seen issues, as you would expect there. Not yet on a level that I think would really cause imminent fear in people in Syria or outside. But there's that.

Then other communities you were mentioning, I think two of the key communities who would feel they have... something to lose in the change of leadership, the Christians and the Kurds.

Then other communities you were mentioning, I think two of the key communities who would feel they have... something to lose in the change of leadership, the Christians and the Kurds.