For decades, Syria and Israel have held rounds of bilateral negotiations, yet no formal or public agreement was ever reached. Since the 1973 war, the relationship between the two sides remained marked by hostile rhetoric, especially from the Assad regime, whose officials were famous for repeating the phrase, “We will respond at the appropriate time and place.” Meanwhile, Israel continued its policy of launching frequent airstrikes against regime forces and Iranian positions in Syria. After the regime’s fall, these strikes expanded to military targets across the country, accompanied by ground incursions and the establishment of military bases in the south.
In recent months, rapid developments have emerged in the Damascus–Tel Aviv relationship, with multiple signs pointing to possible negotiations that could lead to normalization or even a peace deal. These developments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement lifting sanctions on Syria and expressing support for the new Syrian administration, along with his stated desire to bring peace to the region. Additionally, signals from the Syrian government have reinforced this possibility, most notably from U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who on June 29 stated that Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa “made it clear he doesn’t hate Israel and wants peace along this border.”
All these events raise critical questions: What kind of deal is Israel seeking? Does it aim to see Syria become a weak state under the umbrella of the so-called “Abraham Accords”?
Syrian journalist Hamza Al-Sayed told +963 that “Israel’s negotiations with the Syrian government are based on a strategy of bargaining. After the regime’s fall, Tel Aviv began establishing military bases inside Syrian territory. Then came the events in Suwayda, which prompted direct Israeli intervention under the pretext of protecting the Druze.”
Read also: Israel’s Role in Syria: Past Shadows and Present Realities
He adds: “What Israel has done recently is part of a larger plan, laying down bargaining chips to be used during negotiations with the Syrian government to extract concessions from Damascus.” He also dismisses the likelihood of Israel seeking to divide Syria, especially in the south, since such a move could destabilize the area and increase the influence of pro-Iranian groups still active there.
The year 2020 marked a turning point in the Arab Israeli conflict with the announcement of the Abraham Accords, signed between Israel and several Arab states. This step was widely described as a radical realignment of regional alliances and interests.
The Abraham Accords declared a shared commitment among the signatories to promote peace across the Middle East and beyond, emphasizing interfaith and intercultural dialogue. The agreement called for confronting extremism through cooperation and mutual respect, aiming for a comprehensive vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
According to writer Aziz Suleiman, “Israel has always maintained a long-standing goal for Syria: keeping it weak in all institutional aspects, at least in the short term. This has been clearly reflected in Israel’s continued interference in southern Syria and its sustained airstrikes, even while it conducts negotiations with Syrian officials.”
Suleiman predicts that in the near future, Syria and Israel may reach tactical understandings on several disputed issues, particularly in the south, without necessarily signing a comprehensive normalization or peace agreement anytime soon.
