Alwaght- Normalization between Syria and Israel has once again begun to make headlines. Back-to-back comments by the American, Israeli, and Syria officials reveal the opportunities and the conditions to obtain a normalization agreement between the two sides. But it does not seem the normalization between Damascus and Tel Aviv is as easy as the media propaganda shows.
After fall of the government of Bashar al-Assad earlier in December, the Israeli regime in a provocative manner waged a war on Syria in the form of bombing military sites inside the Arab country. The new Syrian government did not react to the attacks. Some described this silence of Damascus as driven by the intention of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa ( or formerly Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) to normalize relations with Tel Aviv. But will this path be as smooth as some may promote?
Israeli conditions for Damascus
The Israeli regime has not hidden its willingness to strike a peace deal with Damascus. Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stressed in a press conference that “the Golan Heights will remain part of Israel.” Sa'ar said that Tel Aviv would not negotiate the Syrian heights Israeli has been occupying since 1967 war in any peace agreement with Syria, but was open to talks on normalizing relations.
A few days ago, the Israeli FM told the Israeli channel i24 News that if an opportunity arose to sign a peace agreement or normalize relations with Syria, it would be positive for Israel’s future, provided that the Golan Heights remained under Israeli control.
The same channel quoted a Syrian source as saying that Israel and Syria would sign a peace agreement before the end of 2025, which would fully normalize relations. The source noted that the occupied Golan Heights would be transformed into a “peace park.” The Syrian source said that under the expected agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw from all Syrian territories it occupied over the past year after the fall of the al-Assad government on December 8, 2024, including Mount Hermon.
At the same time, it seems that the Israelis are still skeptical about the background of the new Syrian rulers and are concerned about getting closer to al-Sharaa, given the fundamentalist and terrorist activities of al-Sharaa in the past and his membership in the terrorist groups of ISIS and the Nusra Front from whose ashes the current Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham rose. For this reason, Tel Aviv has made Washington its intermediary in relations with Syria.
Behind-the-scenes talks
In May, al-Sharaa revealed in a press conference at the Elysee Palace with his French counterpart that indirect talks were underway with Tel Aviv through mediators.
Informed sources also previously told Reuters that Israel and Syria have held direct meetings in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent conflict in the border area.
The current Syrian ruler has repeatedly stressed that Syria will not pose a threat to any foreign side, including Israel. However, the Israeli regime has continued its aggressive actions against Syria and, in addition to heavy bombing of Syrian territory, has continued its expansionist policies in the Golan Heights, Quneitra and other areas in southern Syria. Thomas Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria, has also recently announced negotiations between the new Syrian government and Tel Aviv, but many issues remain dim.
American brokerage
It seems that the Trump administration has a key role in preparing the ground for an agreement between Damascus and Tel Aviv. It is close to the new Syrian government and finds al-Sharaa rule to be the best option for peace in Syria after al-Assad's fall.
Earlier this month, the American news website Axios reported, citing an Israeli official, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Washington to advance talks with Damascus. According to the Israeli official, Netanyahu is seeking a security pact with Syria that would lead to a comprehensive peace agreement.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration looks working to take the credit for any normalization as a diplomatic achievement and to portray its foreign policy as a success. However, it does not seem that the US will be able to easily normalize relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv. This goal is important to the Trump administration because the American president has not been successful in other foreign policy goals, such as ending the war in Ukraine or a ceasefire in Gaza, and therefore the White House is trying to promote the normalization between Damascus and Tel Aviv as a major diplomatic gain for Trump.
Security agreement instead of normalization
Some Syrian sources close to al-Sharaa told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that despite the indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Damascus is yet to be ready to sign a permanent peace deal with Israel.
These sources said that Damascus demands an end to Israeli aggression on Syrian territory and restoration of the 1974 agreement, while Israel wants to establish a buffer zone with the Arab country. The Syrian sources believe that a new security agreement between the two sides will probably be signed instead of a normalization agreement, which will pave the way for a comprehensive peace agreement in the future. The sources stated that it is unlikely that a permanent peace agreement will be reached soon, but a security agreement is much more likely.
Syrian political researcher Wael al-Aji told Asharq Al-Awsat that a comprehensive peace agreement between Syria and Israel is too early at the moment, as the new Syrian government has more important priorities.
Professor Samir Abdullah, director of the Department of Policy Analysis at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, held that although an agreement between the two sides in Tel Aviv and Damascus is possible, this does not mean an immediate normalization.
"I believe that an agreement can be reached between the two sides, but it is important to understand that an agreement does not mean an immediate normalization of relations, because achieving normalization of relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv requires settling several complex cases, especially the Golan Heights case, which remains a fundamental point of disagreement between the two sides," Abdullah said.
He continued: "Hit by years of civil war and devastation, Syria is currently facing tremendous challenges. Given the current situation, the country needs to have a period of peace and stability. This happens through reconstructing infrastructure, rebuilding the economy, and attracting investment. For Damascus, home issues are a top priority for the time being."
So, it seems that before official normalization, Syria will move to a security agreement with Israel for the latter to stop its bombing and other aggression forms, and actually an immediate mutual normalization is not any close to the realities of their relations.
