Barak: Israel No Longer Considers Sykes-Picot Borders Binding, Seeks to Expand Its Territory

Kokcha News Agency – U.S. Envoy to West Asia, Tom Barak, has sparked controversy by declaring that Israel no longer considers the borders established by the Sykes-Picot Agreement as fixed or binding. Barak stated that Israel is now looking to expand its borders into Lebanon, Syria, and other neighboring countries.

In an interview with American media, Barak revealed that he had advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt a more lenient approach towards Lebanon, warning that excessive pressure on the country would backfire. “I told Netanyahu directly, ‘Don’t be too harsh on Lebanon because too much pressure will have the opposite effect,'” Barak said.

Barak emphasized that stability in Lebanon is in the interest of all parties in the region, including Israel. He also reflected on the October 7, 2023 attacks, which he said marked a fundamental shift in Israel’s strategic thinking. “That day changed Israel’s mindset. Tel Aviv no longer sees the borders drawn on the Sykes-Picot maps, set over a century ago, as fixed. Israel is moving towards a changing reality beyond the borders drawn on paper. Israel will go wherever it wants and do whatever it deems necessary for its security. If needed, Israel has the capability and willingness to extend its influence into Lebanon, Syria, and other countries,” Barak asserted.

Barak criticized the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement between Britain and France, which divided the Middle East after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, calling it an “imperialist mistake” that “cost generations dearly.” He stated that “the era of Western intervention is over” and that the future of the Middle East should be shaped by its own nations, not by maps drawn from outside.

Barak’s remarks have elicited mixed reactions in the region. Some view them as a sign of a significant shift in U.S. policy, while others warn that such statements could escalate tensions in West Asia.