Washington – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the United States to mediate negotiations with Syria, according to a report by Axios on Wednesday.
Citing senior Israeli officials, the report states that Netanyahu is interested in negotiating a security agreement and exploring the possibility of a comprehensive peace deal with Syria. If confirmed, these would be the first talks of their kind since 2011.
According to the sources, Netanyahu’s government initially exchanged messages with Syria’s transitional leadership through third parties, eventually progressing to direct secret meetings in neutral countries.
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One Israeli official reportedly said, “It is better for us that the Syrian government is close to the U.S. and Saudi Arabia,” noting that Syria’s transitional president Al-Sharaa is “more favorable than Israel thought and doesn’t take his orders from Ankara.”
Israeli officials outlined their key security “red lines” to U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barak during his visit to Tel Aviv earlier this month. These include the rejection of Turkish military bases in Syria, the removal of Iranian and Hezbollah presence, and the demilitarization of southern Syria. Israel also indicated it would maintain its military presence in Syria until a new agreement addressing these concerns is reached.
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Furthermore, Israel is seeking the inclusion of U.S. forces in a future United Nations border security mission as part of a potential new boundary agreement.
Israeli officials anticipate that Syria’s new government may raise the issue of the Golan Heights in any future peace talks but expect a more flexible stance compared to the former Assad regime.
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Earlier in May, Reuters reported that the UAE had established a backchannel between Israel and Syria, focusing on security, intelligence cooperation, and confidence-building measures. According to sources, these indirect contacts have involved Emirati security officials, Syrian intelligence representatives, and former Israeli intelligence officers.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, Israel has intensified its military operations in Syria, including dozens of airstrikes and incursions in the Daraa and Quneitra regions. Israel has also established seven permanent military positions inside Syrian territory.
