According to a report published Wednesday evening by Israeli journalist Roi Kais, direct talks are taking place between Syria and Israel behind the scenes. Kais reports that senior Syrian officials have acknowledged in recent closed conversations that dialogue between the sides is happening on a daily basis. Beyond that: the officials claimed they do not rule out reaching a peace agreement before the end of Trump’s term.
The report follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expression last month of his desire to open negotiations with the new Syrian government, conveyed to American envoy Thomas Burke. This represents the first political initiative of its kind since 2011, aimed at establishing an updated security agreement based on the 1974 disengagement accord – and ultimately leading to a comprehensive peace treaty between the countries.
A Shift in U.S. Policy Toward Syria
This comes in the wake of President Trump’s meeting with new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa (known as Al-Julani) and the removal of American sanctions on the country. Israel sees a rare window of opportunity, in part due to the withdrawal of Iranian and Hezbollah forces from the Syrian arena.
Demilitarization of Southern Syria
According to Israeli sources, Israel has already conducted indirect talks with the al-Sharaa government, followed by direct meetings in third countries. Senior officials emphasize that Israel is setting red lines for any future agreement – including a demand for the demilitarization of southern Syria, a ban on Turkish or Iranian presence, and the maintenance of Israeli presence until an agreement is reached.
According to those sources, the Syrian side is also showing initial openness to the process, driven by the new regime’s desire to move closer to the U.S. and improve its regional standing. The issue of the Golan Heights is expected to be a central topic in any negotiations, but Israeli officials believe that al-Sharaa may take a more pragmatic approach than the previous regime.
