1. Home
2. World
3. Toward the Normalization of Syria-Israel Relations? Insights from the Israeli Press

As major regional dynamics shift, the prospect of a rapprochement between Damascus and Tel Aviv—once unthinkable—is starting to take shape. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the outcome of the war with Iran, which began on June 13 and ended with a ceasefire agreement on June 24, “could lead the way to new peace prospects for Israel.” “This victory presents an opportunity to significantly strengthen peace accords. We are working toward that goal with determination,” he stated in an official communiqué.

Earlier that day, Israel Hayom reported—citing an anonymous source—that Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed, during a phone call, on a swift end to the Gaza war, potentially within the next two weeks.

According to the newspaper, such an agreement could allow for the expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia and Syria. In exchange, Israel would support the prospect of a two-state solution—provided that substantial reforms are implemented within the Palestinian Authority.

With that in mind, This Is Beirut offers an overview of Israeli media perspectives on the possibility of normalization between Syria and Israel.

When President Donald Trump announced in May 2025 the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, it was clearly not unconditional. He specified that this measure must be followed by the expulsion of terrorist groups and the launch of serious negotiations toward normalization between Syria and Israel.

According to several diplomatic sources cited in Israeli media, the initiative was encouraged by the United Arab Emirates and pushed forward by US special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack.

Although the process has developed behind the scenes, it went public on June 25 when Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed that daily discussions were underway between Jerusalem and the new Syrian leadership. The core of the talks: countering Iranian influence, stabilizing security in southern Syria, and potentially re-evaluating the status of the Golan Heights as part of a comprehensive agreement.

This revelation—widely covered by Israel Hayom, Ynet, and Channel 13—was described by analysts as a symbolic turning point. While the push reportedly came from Netanyahu’s office, as Axios noted, the initiative remains constrained by a set of Israeli red lines. These include the elimination of all Iranian and Hezbollah presence in southern Syria, the complete demilitarization of the Israeli-Syrian border, and an implicit recognition of Israeli control over the Golan—or at minimum, a long-term freeze on Syrian claims.

Haaretz sounded a note of caution on this last point. The paper recalled that similar talks in 2008 and 2011 collapsed precisely over the issue of the Golan, which Damascus regards as a non-negotiable sovereignty matter.

Toward the Completion of the Abraham Accords?

The idea of Syria joining the Abraham Accords is fueling speculation. The Jerusalem Post reported that Syrian President Ahmad el-Chareh had expressed a “conditional openness” to normalization with Israel during indirect talks with American envoys.

According to Ynet, the notion of Syrian participation is likely being used as a diplomatic lever by Damascus to obtain gradual sanctions relief, attract Arab investment—particularly from the Gulf—and secure a non-aggression pact from Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom relayed concerns from within Israel’s security establishment about the unstable nature of Syria’s new regime. It noted that Ahmad el-Chareh remains an unknown persona, and that his shifting alliances—between Ankara, Washington, and the Gulf—raise skepticism.

Analysts in other Israeli media echoed these worries, warning of a potential diplomatic illusion. Indeed, Syria’s institutions remain fragmented, and the new president’s grip on the country is still weak.

Moreover, several editorials have sounded alarms about the process underway. According to Kan 11, normalization must not be seen as an end in itself, but rather as a strategic tool to bolster Israel’s security and further isolate Iran.

Additionally, a controversial billboard ad by the Israeli Coalition for Regional Security—promoting a “New Middle Eastern Order” and featuring Trump, Netanyahu, and Ahmad el-Chareh side-by-side—sparked backlash across the Arab world, according to Israeli press reports. “They’re selling peace without buying trust,” summed up one Maariv columnist.

While talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv offer a rare window of opportunity for normalization, the path forward remains fraught—with public distrust, unresolved territorial disputes, entrenched regional rivalries, and a pressing need for deep reform within the Syrian regime. A story worth watching closely.