Syrian National Congress

The Syrian National Congress, also called the Pan-Syrian Congress, was convened in July 1919 in Damascus, Syria to prepare for the King-Crane Commission of inquiry on the future of "Syria", by which was meant Greater Syria comprising present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The congress was attended by representative from all parts of Syria. Some participants showed support for King Faisal's demands, while others were beginning to question his willingness to make concessions to pro-Zionist groups.^[1] In its final report it pleaded that "there be no separation of the southern part of Syria, known as Palestine, nor of the littoral western zone, which includes Lebanon, from the Syrian country." In response the King-Crane Commission recommended that "the unity of Syria be preserved." The congress was considered the first national parliament in the history of Syria, and it was headed by Hashim al-Atassi.^[2]

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