Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said he jokingly suggested to U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel should be given the U.S. state of New Jersey instead of the occupied Golan Heights during their recent meeting at the White House.

Speaking at an Atlantic Council event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, al-Sharaa said he raised the issue of Washington's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights during his talks with Trump.

According to The National, al-Sharaa recalled telling Trump that Israel could be given New Jersey, arguing that the United States owned the state while its residents had not voted for Trump.

“But President Trump doesn’t own the Golan Heights,” al-Sharaa said. “The Golan Heights is owned by its own people. It’s neither for the Syrian President nor the American President nor any other person to abandon them or give them up to others.”

His remarks underscored Damascus' continued rejection of Israel's control over the Golan Heights, which Syria considers occupied Syrian territory.

Al-Sharaa also criticized Israeli military operations inside Syria, questioning whether the strikes were contributing to Israel's security.

He said Israel had bombed the Syrian presidential palace twice and targeted Syrian airports, asking whether such actions would make Israeli citizens safer.

“Will that bring security to Israeli citizens?” he asked. “I believe the problem is with Israel, not Syria.”

The Syrian president's comments came amid continuing tensions between Damascus and Israel and broader diplomatic efforts to establish arrangements aimed at reducing the risk of further escalation along the Syrian-Israeli frontier.

Al-Sharaa also addressed questions about his political future, saying he had not yet decided whether he would seek election after Syria's transitional period.

“I haven’t thought about being elected,” he said, adding that his immediate focus was on governing the country and serving its people.

However, he left open the possibility of seeking another term if he concluded that remaining in office was necessary to complete his political program.

“If remaining in office is necessary to complete my work, I will nominate myself,” he said.

His comments come as Syria continues its political transition and efforts to rebuild state institutions following years of conflict and political upheaval.

Al-Sharaa also discussed Syria's approach to neighboring Lebanon, saying Damascus wanted to strengthen the Lebanese government and its state institutions.

He said Syria supported efforts to ensure that weapons inside Lebanon came under state control, arguing that stronger state institutions would contribute to Lebanon's stability.

“The Syrian ideas that we have are to empower the Lebanese government to have better institutions ... to have the state taking control over all the weapons in the Lebanese state,” he said.

The remarks highlight Damascus' stated preference for a stronger Lebanese state capable of exercising authority over its territory and security institutions, while Syria continues to seek a new regional role following its own political transition. (ILKHA)