The private Lebanese television network, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), reported on Sunday that Syria—under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa—is moving toward normalized relations with Israel, pending certain conditions.
The channel’s Toni Mrad wrote: “A headline that once seemed unimaginable—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus—could soon become reality.”
Israeli media reported over the weekend that indirect negotiations are underway between Israel and Syria aimed at establishing normalized relations—talks that, according to Israel’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, may already include direct contact between the two countries.
NATURALLY, SYRIA HAS DEMANDS
While the timeline remains uncertain—with some officials predicting rapid movement and others suggesting a more protracted process—sources familiar with Syrian affairs told LBCI that any breakthrough would hinge on substantial concessions, particularly from Israel.
Chief among Syria’s expected gains is formal Israeli recognition of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s new government, which rose to power following the December 8, 2024 collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The two countries have technically remained at war since 1948, with multiple rounds of conflict shaping a deeply adversarial relationship.
In the event of progress, Israel is reportedly considering a withdrawal from territories captured during the final weeks of Assad’s rule. Israeli forces have maintained a presence in several strategic areas across Syria, particularly in the south. \
Any agreement would likely include a comprehensive security arrangement covering the region near the Golan Heights and along the Jordanian border, aimed at limiting military deployments and stabilizing volatile zones.
There is also reported consideration of a possible Israeli offer to lease certain border areas to Syria for a period of 99 years, including strategic locations such as the summit of Mount Hermon, currently the IDF’s Jabal El Sheikh outpost. Such an arrangement, if finalized, would mark a significant diplomatic and territorial compromise, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the negotiations.
The United States is said to be playing an active mediating role. American support for the agreement would likely include the lifting of economic sanctions on Syria and the reintegration of Damascus into key regional forums—long-sought goals for the post-Assad leadership.
AS DOES ISRAEL
In return, Israeli negotiators are expected to seek full sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms, areas captured during the 1967 Six-Day War and long contested. According to Israeli media, the Golan region may be rebranded as a “Peace Park”—a term analysts interpret as signaling the potential deployment of international peacekeepers to enforce post-agreement arrangements.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said [translated]: “Israel is interested in expanding the circle of the Abraham Accords. We have an interest in including countries like Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, in the circle of peace and normalization, while maintaining our vital and security interests.”
Despite the high-level diplomacy, obstacles remain. President al-Sharaa faces opposition from within, especially from hardline elements such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), whose fighters played a key role in toppling the Assad regime. The group has denounced any negotiations with Israel and criticized al-Sharaa’s administration for what it sees as appeasement of the West and insufficient protections for religious minorities.
The political atmosphere in Syria remains fragile. Earlier this month, rumors surfaced of an assassination attempt on al-Sharaa during a visit to the southern province of Daraa. Though Syrian state media denied the reports, LBCI cited sources claiming that a joint operation by Syrian security forces and Turkish intelligence had foiled a plot to kill the president. The alleged mastermind, said to be affiliated with a local ISIS cell, was reportedly detained just one day before the scheduled visit.
As diplomatic efforts unfold behind the scenes, the prospect of a historic shift in Israel-Syria relations hangs in the balance—driven by geopolitical necessity but shadowed by decades of hostility and the unpredictability of a fractured Syrian landscape.
