After nearly 14 years of devastating war, Syria’s new government is now recalibrating its regional relationships — and one of the most pressing questions is: where does Israel fit into this picture?
All eyes across the Islamic world are now on Syria. Will its new leadership stand firmly in support of Palestinian rights, or will it lean toward normalization with Israel?
Reports have emerged of behind-the-scenes talks between Syria and Israel, with some sources even hinting at a potential timeline for normalization — despite the fact that the two nations have technically been at war since the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.
According to Israeli media, direct discussions between the two sides have already taken place, aimed at exploring a possible normalization agreement.
The United Arab Emirates is said to be playing the role of mediator, facilitating communication through a secret diplomatic backchannel.
Any future deal would likely be framed as an extension of the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered agreement that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states.
The Abraham Accords, spearheaded by Donald Trump during his presidency, sought to push a top-down normalization strategy.
The UAE and Bahrain signed the agreement in August and September of 2020, followed by Sudan and Morocco.
Since then, Trump has continued to promote the expansion of the Accords, lobbying more countries to establish formal ties with Israel.
In May, Trump visited three Middle Eastern countries. While in Saudi Arabia, he reportedly met with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and encouraged him to consider normalizing relations with Israel.
Historically, Syria and Israel have had a deep-seated enmity, which intensified following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory.
Israeli Defense Minister Gideon Saar has stated unequivocally that Israel will maintain its occupation of the Golan Heights under any future deal.
Israel has even deepened its presence there, occupying homes and displacing Syrian residents.
Many analysts believe the Syrian public would fiercely oppose ceding the Golan Heights. However, some suggest that the population may be open to practical, common-sense negotiations.